A junior doctor who vowed to “never condemn” the October 7 attacks wore a gold necklace bearing the number seven to her medical tribunal.
Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, 31, appeared before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester on Thursday accused of antisemitism and repeatedly praising Hamas on social media.
The British-Palestinian trauma and orthopaedics specialist had previously shared a photo of herself wearing the same necklace with the caption “Celebratory jewellery.” Around 40 of her supporters filled the public gallery as proceedings began.
Last month, Aladwan was cleared of the same allegations after a tribunal ruled that her social media posts did not amount to “bullying or harassment.” Her comments had included describing Israelis as “worse than Nazis,” calling the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north London, “a Jewish supremacy cesspit,” and referring to the Holocaust as a “concept.”
However, the General Medical Council (GMC) has re-referred her case for a second interim orders tribunal, claiming new evidence has emerged. The GMC said such referrals were made “to protect the public or public confidence in doctors during an investigation.”
Kevin Saunders, representing Aladwan, accused the GMC of a “brazen attempt to re-litigate these matters before a tribunal until [it] gets the results it wants.” He also criticised Health Secretary Wes Streeting — who condemned the earlier decision to clear Aladwan — of trying to “undermine the rule of law and the determination of an objective independent tribunal.”
Streeting said: “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 regulation system.”
Emma Gilsenan, representing the GMC, said the council had obtained new information since the previous ruling that justified a second hearing. She said there had been a “continuation or doubling down of concerning conduct” by Aladwan, in which she had shown “enthusiastic support for proscribed terrorist groups.”
Ahead of the hearing, Aladwan wrote on social media: “In 12 hours the GMC will try to destroy my career and livelihood to please its masters in the ‘Israeli’ lobby. Let’s be clear: A British Jewish or ‘Israeli’ doctor could … bomb hospitals and kill patients in Palestine — and keep their licence and freely treat British patients. I’m being persecuted for speech. They would be protected for murder. This is Jewish supremacy.”
Saunders applied for the proceedings to be stayed due to an “abuse of process,” but the request was rejected. The hearing was later adjourned.
Earlier this week, Aladwan was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred and has since been bailed. One charge relates to social media posts made on October 7 that allegedly “demonstrated support for the Hamas attack on Israel.”
