”We have no other choice but to stop our operations since our clinics are surrounded by Israeli forces”, says Jacob Granger, coordinator for MSF in Gaza in a press release, and continues:
”This is the last thing we want because the needs in Gaza city are enormous, where the most vulnerable people – newborns in neonatal care, those with severe injuries and life-threatening illnesses – cannot move and are in great danger".
The organization writes in the press release that the Israeli military has created a situation that implies an ”unacceptable risk level for our staff".
Sweden's Minister for Development Cooperation Benjamin Dousa (The Moderate Party) says in a written comment that the decision is ”deeply unfortunate”.
”Hospitals are being bombed, aid workers are being killed and the situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly unbearable for every day that passes. Thousands of aid workers work around the clock to alleviate the enormous suffering in Gaza”, says Dousa, and continues:
”At least 270 humanitarian aid workers have been killed just this year and last year 383 humanitarian aid workers were killed. These are appallingly high numbers that occur in contravention of international humanitarian law.”
Israel's expanded offensive against Gaza city, which began earlier in September, includes both air strikes and ground forces where the country wants to take control of the territory's largest city. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes as a result of the offensive.
The escalation has been condemned by, among others, the UN, several European countries and Spain's King Felipe VI.
