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Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, has suspended some operations at a Nasser Hospital in Gaza after its staff and patients saw “armed men, some masked” posing “serious security threats” inside the building.

The Geneva-based medical charity reported on its website that non-essential work at the hospital in Khan Younis was halted on January 20 due to concerns with the “management of the structure, the safeguarding of its neutrality, and security breaches”.

“MSF teams have reported a pattern of unacceptable acts, including the presence of armed men, intimidation, arbitrary arrests of patients, and a recent situation of suspicion of movement of weapons”, said the site’s “frequently asked questions” section, last updated on February 11.

“Hospitals must remain neutral, civilian spaces, free from military presence or activity to ensure the safe and impartial delivery of medical care”, it said, adding that the charity expressed concern to the “relevant” authorities.

Under the suspension, MSF will continue supporting critical services, such as inpatient and surgical departments, but will end support to the paediatrics and maternity wards, including the neonatal intensive care unit, and will no longer offer a range of outpatient consultations and other services.

The organisation was not able to indicate the armed men’s affiliation, but said its concerns were heightened by previous, deliberate Israeli attacks on health facilities.

Israel has decimated the enclave’s health infrastructure and continues to hold captive 95 Palestinian doctors and medical workers, including 80 from Gaza.

Zaher al-Waheidi, the head of the records department at Gaza’s Ministry of Health, said that MSF’s suspension will have a significant impact as hundreds of patients are admitted to the maternity and burn wards daily. He said the ministry would take over maternity patient care.

Gaza’s Ministry of Interior said in a statement that it is committed to preventing any armed presence inside hospitals, and that legal action will be taken against violators. It suggested that armed members of certain families recently entered hospitals, but did not identify those involved.

Israeli ban on aid organisations

MSF’s announcement comes after Israel recently ordered the charity and dozens of other international organisations to stop their work in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank if they did not meet new rules, including sharing details about their staff.

Two weeks ago, MSF – which provides international staff for six hospitals, and operates two field hospitals and eight primary health centres, clinics and medical points – said it would not submit a staff list to Israel after failing to receive assurances for their safety.

Israel has repeatedly attacked hospitals and healthcare workers throughout its genocidal war on Gaza.

In other developments on Saturday, Israel’s military said its troops “eliminated” a person in northern Gaza, alleging that the unidentified individual crossed the “yellow line“. The demarcation divides Gaza into an eastern area under Israeli military control and a western area where Palestinians face fewer movement restrictions but are under constant threat of air strikes and forced displacement.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas slammed Israel for violating the US-brokered “ceasefire”, during which Israel has killed nearly 600 Palestinians since October 10.

In a speech by Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa at an African Union summit in Ethiopia, he called on Israel to remove all “obstacles” to implementing phase two of the “truce” deal, including the work of a technocratic committee that will oversee the daily governance of Gaza.

More than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and 171,000 wounded in attacks in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since October 2023.

IT was when my eight-year-old son Reggie returned to our table – holding a plate of 20 Turkish delights and grinning from ear to ear – that I caved in.

“OK, we are on holiday,” I said as he merrily dished them out to his twin brother Teddie and 12-year-old sister Frankie-Beau.

In fairness, my wife Kayleigh and I had hardly set an example, because the 5-star Liberty Lykia family resort in Oludeniz, on the south-west coast of Turkey, is an all- inclusive foodies’ fantasyland.

Its huge main restaurant offers more than 100 options at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and snacks throughout the day.

On several evenings of our seven-day stay we opted to dine at one of the six sensational paid-for a la carte restaurants, starting from just €5 per child, while watching the sun set across the Mediterranean Sea.

The star of the show was an interactive, flame-fuelled, theatrical dinner of lobster and steak at the open-grill Teppanyaki.

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At the outdoor Pinara Turkish restaurant, you even get a side order of belly dancing.

And all that is just, well, for starters.

A selection of snack shacks, including a well-stocked patisserie, will tempt you throughout the day.

And there’s self-serve draft beer and wine beside the pools and the private beach.

The biggest of the many bars, Apollon, at the heart of the resort, serves more than 30 indulgent cocktails, 24/7.

Thankfully you can easily burn off the over-indulgence.

Within the 400-acre resort, which is set in a tranquil cove among pine forests and overlooked by the majestic Babadag Mountain, are tennis, padel and sandy volleyball courts, an archery area, mini-golf course, ping-pong tables, a climbing wall and two AstroTurf football pitches.

There’s also a gym and exercise classes, as well as all manner of watersports.

Look up in the sky at any time of day and you will be mesmerised by paragliders drifting down to the hotel’s landing strip.

But don’t worry, there’s no need to strap the kids in for the ride, as their every whim can be taken care of at the brilliantly welcoming and free Mini Club, which has endless activities for all age groups.

There’s even a free babysitting service.

With the young’uns entertained, we enjoyed a few hours at the more peaceful adults-only pool and bar.

There you’ll find the luxurious Ocean Spa, where you can pamper yourself with a massage while you gaze out at the Turquoise Coast, so-called because of the striking clear-blue sea. W

hen we were then finally ready to reunite with the family, we headed to the beautiful beach area designed for youngsters, complete with a wave breaker made from rocks and stones.

But the jewel in Liberty Lykia’s crown is its very own waterpark — aptly called Children’s Paradise, with its numerous slides for kids and adults.

It’s a truly vast resort, set into the hilly mountainside.

Steps are steep but there are plenty of slopes and more than enough lifts.

And if little legs are tired after a long day of thrills, on-site shuttle buses taxi you around.

You can even call reception for a golf buggy to take you to and from your room day or night.

Bands and DJs

Our room was a modern sea-view Deluxe Family Suite with walk-in shower, air-conditioning, a superking-sized bed, two single beds and a sofa bed.

The free mini bar is restocked daily so you can enjoy a drink on the balcony.

We were just a two-minute walk from the resort’s main square — a beautiful Mediterranean plaza with a wine bar, shops selling clothes, trainers, sunglasses and souvenirs, an arcade, a craft coffee shop and a boutique for handbags and shoes.

After the sun sets, the main swimming pool hosts illuminated remote-controlled boats, and the stunning outdoor amphitheatre delivers an impressive variety of West End-like productions.

The main square is the lively entertainment venue for bands and DJs taking to the stage until midnight.

It’s not quiet, so do request a room a little farther away if you have very young children.

For anyone who wants to keep the party going, there’s an underground nightclub open until 2am.

And you can stagger out into the nearby snack bar that’s open until 7.30am if, somehow, you are still hungry.

After a week of family fun and feasting in the sun, none of our clothes fit — and the dentist will have some choice words for our kids.

But we left with the wonderful aftertaste of a holiday that was, in the words of my daughter, one big Turkish delight.