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Outrage as UK doctors’ union calls for probe into IDF ‘mistreatment of Gaza medics’
British Medical Association was recently condemned for 'lack of neutrality' in letter calling for the UK to act over Gaza with no mention of the hostages held by Hamas
The British Medical Association, (BMA) the trade union and professional body for doctors and medical students in the UK, has called for an urgent independent investigation into what it claims are “reports of mistreatment of medical staff in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)”.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the BMA said it was “responding to reports of mistreatment of medical staff in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces”.
Dr Latifa Patel, chair of the representative body at the union, wrote: “It is deeply worrying to hear reports of mistreatment and assaults on doctors and other healthcare staff in Gaza by the IDF.
“Healthcare workers are protected by the Geneva Conventions, and attacks against them are completely unacceptable. The BMA condemns any mistreatment of medical professionals – a clear violation of the principle of medical neutrality – and calls for an urgent independent investigation.”
Speaking to Jewish News, the UK Doctors Anti-Racism group expressed grave concerns over “expressions by the BMA of polarising political views not directly related to UK healthcare”, adding it noted the significantly “detrimental impact these statements are having on healthcare staff and patients’ wellbeing, particularly the most vulnerable” as well as “the heightened risk of extremism in this increasingly tense and divided environment.”
The group has called on the BMA to urgently set out clear guidance on what constitutes racist, including antisemitic, conduct in healthcare and related settings; devise an up to date BMA toolkit on racism, including antisemitism awareness and launch a high profile BMA campaign for zero tolerance to racism, including antisemitism, in healthcare and related settings.
A consultant paediatrician and safeguarding professional based in London told Jewish News: “Regarding medical neutrality in healthcare this principle cannot be upheld in all circumstances. In cases where hospitals are doubling up as terror cells, and terrorists purporting to be hospital staff may pose a risk to the lives of civilians the necessary military actions must be taken to protect innocent lives.”
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