Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), commonly known as Doctors Without Borders, is widely perceived as an organization dedicated to providing crucial aid and supplies in challenging conditions impartially. Nevertheless, a former leader of the group is now criticizing MSF’s response to the situation in Gaza, alleging that its members have become “accomplices of Hamas.”

Alain Destexhe, who served as an MSF doctor in the 1980s and later as the organization’s secretary-general in the 1990s, informed Digital that MSF had strayed from its foundational principles of impartiality and humanitarianism.

Destexhe stated to Digital, “It would have been inconceivable during my tenure as MSF’s secretary-general for the organization to exhibit the level of bias currently seen in Gaza. We defined ourselves as a neutral, impartial, and humanitarian entity.” He added, “I believe MSF in Gaza is now overtly siding with Hamas and opposing Israel.”

He further remarked, “Americans should understand that Doctors Without Borders is no longer the same organization it was one or two decades ago. It has transformed into a biased, partisan, and activist group.”

On October 12, 2023, under a week following Hamas’s brutal massacre and the taking of over 250 hostages, MSF issued a statement condemning the violence but also urged a halt to Israel’s actions in Gaza, omitting any reference to the hostages.

The organization’s statement read, “Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is appalled by the savage mass killing of civilians committed by Hamas, and by the extensive attacks currently being carried out by Israel in Gaza, Palestine. MSF demands an immediate end to the indiscriminate violence and the urgent creation of safe zones and safe routes for people to access them.”

In addition to MSF’s condemnations of both the massacre and Israeli military operations, Destexhe claims to have found multiple social media posts on accounts purportedly linked to MSF personnel that appeared to celebrate the October 7 massacre. Destexhe clarified to Digital that a significant portion of MSF’s staff in the Gaza Strip are Palestinians, rather than international workers.

Destexhe acknowledged that MSF must cooperate with Hamas to operate in Gaza, as the militant group oversees “all civil society and all the medical facilities” in the territory. He stated that independent operation would have been impossible during his time as secretary-general and that the organization would have refused to work with “a totalitarian and .”

Destexhe told Digital, “The sole course of action MSF can take is to declare, ‘No, we refuse to be involved. We must withdraw from Gaza. And we will not become accomplices to a terrorist organization such as Hamas.'”

MSF has encountered considerable examination concerning its activities and pronouncements regarding the Gaza situation.

Previously this year, MSF initiated an advertising campaign targeting the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization supported by the U.S. and Israel. MSF leveled accusations against GHF, claiming its involvement in “systemized violence.”

Chapin Fay, a spokesperson for GHF, dismissed MSF’s accusations as “false and disgraceful,” asserting that the organization was disseminating misinformation.

Last month, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) called for the Attorney General to investigate MSF under the Anti-Terrorism Act. In correspondence acquired by Digital, Stefanik alleged that MSF’s criticisms of GHF “replicate propaganda consistently advanced by Hamas and risk jeopardizing the sole large-scale humanitarian food initiative currently active in Gaza.”

Destexhe further highlighted in his discussion with Digital that MSF appeared to be repeating the views and figures provided by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry. This included its prompt condemnation of an explosion at al-Ahali Hospital.

While it was later ascertained that the explosion resulted from a misfired Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket, MSF did not correct or retract its condemnation. The statement still exists but now features a community note.

Destexhe declared, “MSF is being dishonest, MSF is partisan, MSF is biased, and MSF are accomplices of Hamas.”

Destexhe contends that MSF’s bias issue in Gaza could be resolved by the organization’s withdrawal from the enclave.

He asserted, “Should MSF withdraw, the humanitarian conditions in Gaza will not be altered.”

Destexhe posited that even without MSF’s presence in Gaza, medical professionals would continue to care for patients, suggesting the organization provides no “added value” to the region.

He recounted previous instances where MSF prioritized ethical considerations over maintaining a presence, citing its withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a decision made while he served as secretary-general.

During the Rwandan genocide in 1994, a segment of the organization opted to depart, believing that remaining would merely validate the ongoing violence.

It is explained that the organization “was compelled to choose between persisting its work in the camps, thus inadvertently empowering the génocidaires over the refugees, or pulling out from the camps and abandoning a population in need.”

Ultimately, the French division of the organization departed in late 1994, whereas the Dutch, Belgian, and Spanish divisions decided to stay. Nevertheless, MSF Belgium and MSF Holland were compelled to cease their programs in July 1995.

Digital contacted MSF for comment but did not receive an immediate reply.

Beth Bailey of Digital contributed to this article.