British Palestinian doctor suspended over anti-Israel social media posts

A London-based Palestinian doctor has been suspended for 15 months over anti-Israel posts on social media.

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, 31, who is a trainee trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, is facing investigation initiated by the General Medical Council (GMC) for posts and comments made on various online platforms that prompted complaints of antisemitism, including from the Jewish Medical Association UK and the Campaign Against Antisemitism.

During the hearing on Wednesday, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) imposed a 15-month interim suspension on the doctor with review to be carried out every six months.

GMC counsel Emma Gilsenan outlined allegations that Dr Aladwan’s posts contained material that appeared to justify terrorism, deny sexual violence, promote antisemitic conspiracy theories, misuse Holocaust and Nazi imagery, and endorse proscribed organisations and acts of terrorism.

Specific organisations cited included Hamas and the activist group Palestine Action.

The tribunal was told that the GMC considers these posts serious enough to question whether Dr Aladwan should continue practising medicine.

Dr Aladwan has denied the allegations, stating that her posts reflect legitimate criticism of Israel and Zionism, and that she has not engaged in hate speech. Her legal representative, Kevin Saunders, argued that the content falls within the realm of political expression and debate.

The suspension will remain in effect while the investigation proceeds.