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AIBU - problems with antisemitism amongst NHS medical staff?

561 replies

Twiglets1 · 12/10/2026 06:32

The Campaign Against Antisemitism, a prominent UK watchdog group, has identified five healthcare professionals whose public statements it considers antisemitic or anti-Israel.

The five individuals, all current or former National Health Service employees, include midwife Fatimah Mohamied, who allegedly endorsed a post supporting Palestinian “resistance” on Oct. 7, 2023 by responding “Hell yeah!!!” to a post during the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023, that said: “Palestinians have a right to resist their occupation — we have a right to support them.”

Additionally, physician Dr. Abdelaal Ragheb Elfarra claimed Zionists control the media and the world; psychiatrist Dr. Ahmed Sewehli said regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “you need to be dead”; and emergency physician Dr. Nadeem Crowe described Israel as a “terrorist octopus.” Occupational therapist Zaida Akhtar allegedly shared a video appearing to encourage violence against Netanyahu’s son and a “false flag” claim about the Bondi Beach attack in Australia last year.

The allegations concerning the medical professionals follow a review published in June by John Mann, the British government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, which found “routine ostracism” of Jewish staff and patients within the NHS.

Jewish community representatives have warned that antisemitism in healthcare can affect patients at moments of particular vulnerability.

Karen Newman, a vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, described that concern during parliamentary testimony on May 14. She spoke about Jewish patients hesitating to request kosher meals after seeing a Palestinian badge on a nurse’s uniform.

“That is not a moment when you feel good asking for kosher meals,” she said.

https://www.jns.org/news/world/medical-staff-antisemitism-flagged-in-uk

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Cartoonmouse · 13/10/2026 07:25

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:17

If a country is not following rules as citizens we can protest and invoke sanctions. British citizens can and should do that. Israel is only the strongest because the USA is bankrolling the atrocities whilst ignoring Ukraine.

Israel won't care about sanctions.

And the US is hardly going to be influenced by little old us. And perhaps the US agrees with what Israel is doing? Its not stopping it after all. So unfortunately because we aren't a strong power any more with a strong military then we don't have any influence in a world run by strong men. However moral the case. Thats the way of it...as Andy Burnham said benefits come before defence and that means we have given up our ability to influence world events for the better.

Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 07:24

And from Arab News (September 2025)

The UN secretary-general condemned on Tuesday the “systematic destruction” of Gaza City, but insisted it was for the international courts to determine whether Israel is committing genocide.

Taking questions at UN headquarters, Antonio Guterres said it was not his role to make a legal determination of genocide after a team of experts commissioned by the UN’s Human Rights Council concluded that Israel is doing just that in Gaza.

UN agencies, global bodies and governments face mounting pressure to say that Israel’s conduct in the Palestinian territory since is began military operations in October 2023 amounts to genocide.

Asked whether he believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, Guterres said: “As I’ve said, time and time again, in these and different, similar circumstances, it is not in the attributions that the secretary-general to do the legal determination of genocide.

“That belongs to the adequate judicial entities, namely the International Court of Justice.”

www.arabnews.com/world/un-chief-guterres-calls-gaza-situation-morally-politically-legally-intolerable-2615576

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Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 07:20

@Oak13af From the BBC (September 2025)

The UN says it cannot make a legal determination as to whether a situation constitutes genocide under international law. It says a situation is referred to as genocide only after a competent national or international court has declared it as such.

When asked by journalists on Tuesday if he would consider using the word genocide to describe Israel's actions in Gaza, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said: "It's for the court to decide whether it's genocide or not, and we see the evidence mounting."

A spokesman for the UK government also said the decision was up to a court, but added that this "does not take away from our position that Israel's actions are appalling".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8641wv0n4go

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Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:18

Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 07:12

If your argument was confined to saying the Israel response has been disproportionate, I would agree with you.

Unfortunately you seem to be just restricting blame to Israel, and ignoring the Hamas role in the tragedy.

And you’re ignoring genocide so….

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:17

Cartoonmouse · 13/10/2026 07:13

Thats war though. And if a court finds no genocide then unfortunately for Hamas they picked the wrong country to attack. Germany tried to flatten London and nearly succeeded. We just happened to be better at fighting back.

Remember international law is really an illusion. It needs a country to agree to follow the rules and if its doesnt theres not much anyone can do if we don't want war ourselves. Unfortunately the reality is its survival of the strongest, made worse by Trump

If a country is not following rules as citizens we can protest and invoke sanctions. British citizens can and should do that. Israel is only the strongest because the USA is bankrolling the atrocities whilst ignoring Ukraine.

Cartoonmouse · 13/10/2026 07:13

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:06

Israel has flattened it and then some. It does not need to be doing what it’s doing do Palestinian families and children or illegally grabbing land.

Thats war though. And if a court finds no genocide then unfortunately for Hamas they picked the wrong country to attack. Germany tried to flatten London and nearly succeeded. We just happened to be better at fighting back.

Remember international law is really an illusion. It needs a country to agree to follow the rules and if its doesnt theres not much anyone can do if we don't want war ourselves. Unfortunately the reality is its survival of the strongest, made worse by Trump

Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 07:12

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:06

Israel has flattened it and then some. It does not need to be doing what it’s doing do Palestinian families and children or illegally grabbing land.

If your argument was confined to saying the Israel response has been disproportionate, I would agree with you.

Unfortunately you seem to be just restricting blame to Israel, and ignoring the Hamas role in the tragedy.

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Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 07:10

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:02

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory released reports—including findings in 2025 and mid-2026—concluding that actions by Israeli authorities and security forces in Gaza amount to genocide, citing mass killings, targeted harm to children, and the deliberate imposition of conditions calculated to destroy Palestinian life in the strip.

That is enough for me.

Yet the UN as an organisation do not call what is happening in Gaza a genocide.

Why? Because they are waiting for the ruling of the international court case to determine whether it can legally be determined a genocide or not.

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Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:06

Cartoonmouse · 13/10/2026 07:02

The problem is Hamas started the war against a country far stronger than it. It would be like us declaring war on China and then everyone being surprised when China then flattens us.

Israel has flattened it and then some. It does not need to be doing what it’s doing do Palestinian families and children or illegally grabbing land.

Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 07:05

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:00

Nope and that is offensive to say that.

It's offensive to say that yet you show no sympathy when it is pointed out that Jewish people in the UK have said they feel intimidated by marches in city centres?

All you seem to want to do is use whataboutery to minimise their fears by saying - well other minority groups feel intimidated too in certain situations.

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KatiePricesKnickers · 13/10/2026 07:05

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:02

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory released reports—including findings in 2025 and mid-2026—concluding that actions by Israeli authorities and security forces in Gaza amount to genocide, citing mass killings, targeted harm to children, and the deliberate imposition of conditions calculated to destroy Palestinian life in the strip.

That is enough for me.

So that’s just the UN’s opinion.
The UN who are infiltrated by antisemitism and extremists.

That is not enough for anyone with half a brain and eyes in their head.

Cartoonmouse · 13/10/2026 07:05

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:02

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory released reports—including findings in 2025 and mid-2026—concluding that actions by Israeli authorities and security forces in Gaza amount to genocide, citing mass killings, targeted harm to children, and the deliberate imposition of conditions calculated to destroy Palestinian life in the strip.

That is enough for me.

No one can pre-empt any findings by a court. The process needs to be done properly and be seen to be done. Evidence collection such as tactical records and witness statements will take a long time. Its pointless saying "thats enough for me " becuase you aren't actually the judge presiding in the court.

Cartoonmouse · 13/10/2026 07:02

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 06:43

Israel is the one pummelling Gaza, engaging in genocide and acting illegally.

The problem is Hamas started the war against a country far stronger than it. It would be like us declaring war on China and then everyone being surprised when China then flattens us.

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:02

KatiePricesKnickers · 13/10/2026 06:55

It’s not a genocide, that’s only an opinion, and a weak one at that.

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory released reports—including findings in 2025 and mid-2026—concluding that actions by Israeli authorities and security forces in Gaza amount to genocide, citing mass killings, targeted harm to children, and the deliberate imposition of conditions calculated to destroy Palestinian life in the strip.

That is enough for me.

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 07:00

Millerner · 13/10/2026 06:54

Scares Jews. That’s their purpose surely?

Nope and that is offensive to say that.

Cartoonmouse · 13/10/2026 06:59

AlonsoMosley · 13/10/2026 04:46

We, the EU and the US give massive amounts of money and favourable trade deals to Israel, so we can absolutely choose our concern.

We do not give the same favour to say - Somalia.

That is the most outrageous argument Ive heard so far in support of anti semetisim We should direct our concern to violence happening around the world only when one party is an ally. I'm afraid no action the UK takes will make any difference to Israel and it's just used as a smoke screen to excuse anti semitism.

To take a topical example what about Saudi Arabia and the Houthis? I don't see many badges or marches about them and Saudi is an ally? Although they aren't generally Jewish I suppose.

KatiePricesKnickers · 13/10/2026 06:55

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 06:43

Israel is the one pummelling Gaza, engaging in genocide and acting illegally.

It’s not a genocide, that’s only an opinion, and a weak one at that.

Millerner · 13/10/2026 06:54

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 06:23

It educates, keeps the atrocities in the public eye and stops them from being forgotten, it illustrates strong feeling to our government, it is a sign of free speech and democracy, it gives hope to those suffering in Gaza, it tells those carrying atrocities that the world is watching…

I don’t want any of our taxes going to Israel behaving as they are, I want our government to work harder at trying to stop the atrocities, I want our government to put pressure on Netanyahu and I want the atrocities to stop.

Who are you to say that British citizens can’t or shouldn’t voice the above?

Scares Jews. That’s their purpose surely?

Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 06:52

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 06:47

Note all you like. I am entitled to my views as regards Gaza as is every other citizen in this country. That doesn’t mean abuse or prejudice is ok or to be tolerated towards anybody but we have robust procedures set up to deal with both.

People who don't acknowledge that Hamas are part of the problem in Gaza are doing no favours to the people living there who have to put up with living under their horrible rule. No elections for 20 years, is that ok do you think?

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Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 06:48

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 06:45

People fear being identified as all sorts of things. I don’t think the LGBT, Muslim or trans communities have it easy either.

So it's ok that some Jewish people have said they feel too intimidated to walk through city centres when these marches are going on? Because - in other situations - other minority groups also feel threatened and vulnerable.

Wouldn't you feel any empathy for these other minority groups if they said they felt intimidated by certain situations? I would.

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Oak13af · 13/10/2026 06:47

Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 06:45

Noted that you refuse to attribute any responsibility to Hamas for the Gaza war and the horrendous events triggered by Hamas actions on 7/10/23.

Note all you like. I am entitled to my views as regards Gaza as is every other citizen in this country. That doesn’t mean abuse or prejudice is ok or to be tolerated towards anybody but we have robust procedures set up to deal with both.

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 06:45

Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 06:43

For most of us we only have to be concerned about extra traffic etc.

We don't have to fear being identified as Jewish.

People fear being identified as all sorts of things. I don’t think the LGBT, Muslim or trans communities have it easy either.

Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 06:45

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 06:43

Israel is the one pummelling Gaza, engaging in genocide and acting illegally.

Noted that you refuse to attribute any responsibility to Hamas for the Gaza war and the horrendous events triggered by Hamas actions on 7/10/23.

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Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 06:43

Oak13af · 13/10/2026 06:41

Lots of people avoid city centres when marches happen for all sorts of courses.

For most of us we only have to be concerned about extra traffic etc.

We don't have to fear being identified as Jewish.

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Oak13af · 13/10/2026 06:43

Twiglets1 · 13/10/2026 06:42

Are you going to respond to the point about ignoring Hamas when you attribute blame for the horrific state of Gaza?

Israel is the one pummelling Gaza, engaging in genocide and acting illegally.