Health Secretary has ‘no confidence’ in medical regulation system after ‘Jewish supremacy’ doc let off
EXCLUSIVE: Wes Streeting condemns tribunal for allowing doctor who called Royal Free Hospital 'a Jewish supremacy cesspit' to remain in post
The health secretary has launched an unprecedented attack on the UK’s medical regulation system, saying he has “no confidence” in its ability to keep patients safe after a doctor who called for the ethnic cleansing of Jews from Israel was allowed to continue practising.
Dr Rahmeh Aladwan has become infamous within the British Jewish community for such claims as “the UK is occupied and controlled by Jewish supremacy – in fact, most Christian majority countries are” and calling the Royal Free Hospital in London a “Jewish Supremacy Cesspit”.
On Thursday, the Medical Practitioner Tribunals Service (MPTS) ruled that Aladwan, who has parroted extreme far-right talking points like the idea that “Rabbis need to reject the Amalek commandment and the notion that non-jews are lesser than goyim”, is fit to practice medicine while the GMC investigation into her continues.
In a strongly worded statement to Jewish News, Health Secretary Wes Streeting responded to the MPTS ruling, saying: “The racist language of ‘Jewish supremacy’ reflects the values of Nazis, not the NHS. I fail to see how medics using such language with impunity doesn’t undermine confidence in the medical profession. I have no confidence in the ability of our medical regulation system to keep patients safe and I am taking urgent advice on next steps.”
Aladwan, a member of Palestine Action until the group was banned under terror legislation in July, has also made no secret of her thoughts on Hamas. She has posted: “I don’t condemn Hamas. I don’t condemn October 7. I don’t condemn armed resistance to Occupation. I condemn ‘Israel’.”
The Community Security Trust described her conduct as “truly appalling and highlights exactly why firm action must be taken. She should be disciplined accordingly”.
The GMC has insisted “antisemitism and all forms of prejudice have no place in healthcare,” but the ruling has prompted criticism from Jewish community groups who argue the decision risks undermining trust in the profession. Streeting’s comments pile further pressure on the GMC and the MPTS to explain how such cases are handled.
The MPTS told Jewish News that it did not comment in individual cases. The tribunal determination, which the paper has seen, determined that as per the information provided to it, Aladwan had not fallen afoul of exceptions to a doctor’s right of freedom of expression – exceptions including ‘Allegations that a doctor is promoting and/or spreading misinformation which has the potential to harm public health or undermine public confidence in the medical profession.’
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