'Judaise medicine': Palestinian doctors are under attack in Israel

What Happened

Palestinian citizens of Israel working in the healthcare sector are facing increased professional scrutiny, disciplinary hearings, and public calls for their removal from the medical workforce. This trend follows a specific incident at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, where Yehoshua Shani, chairman of a forum opposing a Gaza ceasefire, alleged that Arab staff mistreated his wounded nephew. While hospital authorities rejected the claims of inappropriate treatment, the incident prompted public rhetoric from figures such as journalist Boaz Golan and Likud MK Moshe Saada, who advocated for restricting the employment of Palestinian medical professionals and students from the Palestinian Authority. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHRI) reported in April 2024 that at least 15 hospitals and all four Israeli health maintenance organisations have conducted disciplinary inquiries or dismissals against Palestinian personnel since the start of the war in October 2023.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The integration of Palestinian citizens of Israel into the national healthcare system is significant, as they comprise approximately 27 percent of nurses and dentists and nearly half of pharmacists. The current campaign to restrict their professional participation threatens the stability of the public health infrastructure and reflects deepening social and political divisions within Israel regarding the role of its Arab minority during the ongoing conflict.

Watch For

Monitor for potential legislative changes or new hospital policies regarding the hiring and disciplinary procedures for Palestinian medical staff, as well as further reports from PHRI on the scale of employment terminations or career barriers facing Palestinian physicians.