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The WMA opposed calls for suspension, saying engagement with its 117 national medical association members remains essential.
By Shula Rosen
Health advocacy groups are seeking the suspension of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) from the World Medical Association (WMA), arguing that the organization has failed to respond adequately to allegations concerning the war in Gaza and violations of medical ethics.
The campaign is being led by the People’s Health Movement (PHM), Artsen voor Gaza (Doctors for Gaza), and the Health Advisory Council of the Jewish Voice for Peace.
The groups want the issue placed before the WMA General Assembly in October and have gathered more than 1150 signatures from health professionals and organizations.
Leslie London, Emeritus Professor of Public Health at the University of Cape Town and a member of PHM South Africa, told The Lancet that the IMA has “colluded in the unspeakable treatment of Palestinians during this war.” He said the association had failed to acknowledge evidence regarding attacks on medical facilities and personnel in Gaza and remained silent while Gazans faced severe shortages of food, water and medical supplies.
The IMA rejected the allegations, telling The Lancet: “The accusations against the IMA are, at worst, lies, and at best, highly contested allegations presented as fact.” It also said efforts to remove it from the WMA “seem to confuse a country’s government with its medical association, an extremely dangerous precedent.”
The organization further stated that Hamas bears responsibility for damage to Gaza’s health-care system through its use of hospitals for military purposes and said its members continue to uphold universal medical ethics.
The IMA noted that it has issued statements supporting medical neutrality, international humanitarian law, humanitarian aid deliveries to civilians in Gaza and humane treatment of prisoners and detainees. In August, it also expressed “deep concern” regarding an attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
The WMA opposed calls for suspension, saying engagement with its 117 national medical association members remains essential.
The organization described the IMA as “one of our founding members and a strong advocate for WMA ethics and policies” and said excluding members because of government actions would weaken international medical dialogue.
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