In July 2010, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) worked “closely with an Israeli team of burn specialists” to treat victims of a fuel tanker crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to a Haaretz report, however, one of Israeli doctors described negative interactions with the MSF volunteers, who “did not want to be around him or the other team members”: “Doctors from international aid organizations treat a delegation of volunteer Israeli doctors to Congo as though we were occupiers.” One aid worker commented, “Unfortunately, it’s true. International aid organizations [in the Congo] are very pro-Palestinian and not too friendly to Israelis.”

In response, MSF denied that “cooperation was difficult due to alleged anti-Israel sentiment from MSF staff,” or that it “places politics above the best interests of our patients.” However, the statement did not directly address the claims of interpersonal tension between the Israeli and MSF volunteers.

MSF also defended its accusation of Israel’s “devastating disregard” for civilians during the 2009 Gaza war, alleging that Israel conducted “indiscriminate bombings” during the fighting.