An NHS doctor who allegedly denied the Holocaust and celebrated the October 7 Hamas attack has been permitted to continue practising after a tribunal rejected calls for her suspension.
Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, a trauma and orthopaedics physician, will face no restrictions whilst the General Medical Council investigates her social media posts, after the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service ruled against imposing interim measures on Thursday.
The physician, who has 35,000 followers on social media, allegedly posted content claiming antisemitism and the Holocaust were “concepts” exploited to advance a “narrative of victimhood”. Posts attributed to her account stated “I will never condemn the 7th of October” whilst rejecting evidence of sexual assaults during the Hamas-led massacre that killed approximately 1,200 people.
In recent posts, the account labelled two Palestinian attackers who killed six people on a Jerusalem bus as “Palestinian martyrs” and promoted conspiracy theories suggesting Israeli intelligence assassinated American conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at a Utah university event this month.
The tribunal determined there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate Dr Aladwan posed a genuine danger to patients or that her continued practice would damage public trust in medicine. The panel concluded her social media activity did not constitute “bullying or harassment” despite GMC counsel Isobel Thomas arguing Jewish patients would feel unsafe receiving her care.
“The Tribunal does not consider that the information before it today is sufficient to establish that there may be a real risk to patients,” the ruling stated, adding that “a reasonable and fully informed member of the public would not be alarmed or concerned” by her continuing to practise.
Dr Aladwan defended her posts as “legitimate and can be defended and reasoned” whilst becoming tearful when describing over 50 friends she said had been killed in Gaza.
Her legal representative, Tom Gillie from Rahman Lowe Solicitors, argued the posts fell under free speech protections, stating individuals might find them offensive but his client retained the right to express views that “shock, or disturb or offend.
The Health Secretary has expressed complete dismay at the decision, posting on social media platform X that language about “Jewish supremacy” echoed Nazi ideology rather than NHS principles.
The racist language of ‘Jewish supremacy’ reflects the values of Nazis, not the NHS,” Wes Streeting said. “I fail to see how medics using such language with impunity doesn’t undermine confidence in the medical profession.”
He added: “I have no confidence in the ability of our medical regulation system to keep patients safe and I am taking urgent advice on next steps.”
The Campaign Against Antisemitism denounced the verdict as “inexplicable and disgraceful”, warning Britain was descending “into the abyss” as institutions failed to protect citizens from extremists.
“It is staggering that it believes that a doctor who appears to defend armed jihad and violent attacks on Jews, posted a photo of a Hamas terrorist and described a hospital as a ‘cesspit of Jewish supremacy’ is fit to practise medicine,” a spokesperson said.
The organisation announced plans to seek legal counsel regarding available options and pledged to monitor the GMC’s ongoing investigation closely.
Dr Aladwan has previously attracted controversy for calling the Royal Free Hospital in North London, which serves many Jewish patients, a “Jewish supremacy cesspit” and claiming “the UK is occupied and controlled by Jewish supremacy”.
She was formerly a member of Palestine Action before the group’s proscription as a terrorist organisation in July. In May, she was arrested whilst wearing medical scrubs during a protest at an Elbit Systems facility in Gloucestershire.
The doctor has also posted content stating “I don’t condemn Hamas. I don’t condemn October 7. I don’t condemn armed resistance to Occupation. I condemn ‘Israel‘.
Dr Aladwan emerged from the Manchester tribunal to applause from dozens of flag-waving supporters who had gathered outside. She received flowers and addressed the crowd, expressing hope the decision would inspire other healthcare workers to “speak up”.
“Today the panel confirmed that my speech was perfectly legal,” she told supporters, adding that criticising “Jewish supremacy” and supporting “armed resistance of the occupied Palestinian people” was within her rights.
Among her supporters was Dr Rehiana Ali, a consultant neurologist previously suspended for praising the October 7 attack’s architect as a “legend”. Her suspension was lifted by a tribunal earlier this year.
The GMC confirmed Dr Aladwan remains registered with a licence to practise, stating: “Antisemitism and all forms of prejudice have no place in healthcare.”
The Health Secretary had previously told communal leaders he would be “hauling in the GMC’s chief executive and chair” to explain why the regulator was “failing publicly and abysmally in their responsibility to protect Jewish patients.
Data released by the GMC shows that of 402 complaints of antisemitism made between October 7, 2023 and November 2024, 350 cases were closed at the initial triage stage.
Jewish community organisations have expressed alarm at the decision, with the Jewish Leadership Council stating it was “vital that Jewish patients are able to trust that their doctor will treat them without prejudice.”
The Community Security Trust described her conduct as “truly appalling” and called for disciplinary action.
The tribunal cited Dr Aladwan’s right to freedom of expression under the European Convention on Human Rights, despite legal precedent establishing limitations on speech for medical professionals.
The MPTS did not respond to requests for comment on individual cases.
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