A petition calling for the suspension of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) from the World Medical Association (WMA) has sparked a debate within the international medical community ahead of the WMA’s annual conference in Rotterdam this October. Organized by several health advocacy groups including the People’s Health Movement, Dutch group Artsen voor Gaza, and Jewish Voice for Peace, the petition alleges that the IMA has failed to uphold core medical ethical standards and accuses it of being complicit in violations of medical neutrality and human rights during recent conflicts involving Israel and Gaza.

The petition specifically criticizes the IMA for not publicly condemning Israeli military operations that have damaged Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, highlighting what supporters describe as systemic inequalities in healthcare access for Palestinians in the West Bank and actions against healthcare workers in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. It also references the IMA’s alleged complicity in the mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners. The petition has garnered over 1,150 signatures from health professionals, though its full list of signatories has not been disclosed.

Supporters of the petition argue that holding the IMA accountable through suspension would reinforce the importance of medical ethics and humanitarian principles. Leslie London, emeritus professor of Public Health and a member of the People’s Health Movement South Africa, described the IMA as having “colluded in the unspeakable treatment of Palestinians during this war.” The British Medical Association has reportedly suspended ties with the IMA as early as June 2025.

However, the Israeli Medical Association and its supporters strongly reject these accusations. The IMA emphasizes that it is an independent professional body, separate from the Israeli government, and insists that its members uphold medical ethics. It points out that some petition claims are “lies or highly contested allegations presented as fact” and warns that confusing a government with a medical association sets a dangerous precedent. The IMA has also highlighted Hamas’s role in using medical facilities for military purposes, which it says contributes to the deterioration of Gaza’s healthcare system.

The World Medical Association has expressed opposition to suspending the IMA, arguing that expulsion based on the actions of a member country’s government would damage international collaboration and medical dialogue. In a statement, the WMA noted the importance of maintaining engagement with all member associations, citing concerns that exclusion could undermine efforts to uphold medical ethics globally. The WMA also pointed out that the IMA is a founding member and an active participant in promoting policies surrounding medical ethics and humanitarian concerns.

Critics of the proposed suspension further argue that the boycott could harm global medical research, collaboration, and patient care. Iranian-Jewish cardiologist Dr. Afshine Emrani warned that the petition overlooks Israeli contributions to medical technology and innovation that benefit patients worldwide, cautioning against setting unequal standards by singling out Israel while comparable organizations from countries with questionable human rights records remain members.

Supporters of the IMA underscore that the WMA’s founding principles, established after World War II, aim to separate medicine from political conflicts and maintain universal ethical standards applicable to all patients regardless of nationality. They also note that suspending the IMA would not address the underlying political disputes but instead might compromise vital scientific exchanges and medical cooperation.

As the October WMA Congress approaches, delegates will face a complex decision weighing the ethical responsibilities of medical associations against the risk of politicizing global medical organizations. Both advocates for and opponents of the petition emphasize the importance of medical ethics, though they differ sharply on how these principles should be applied in the context of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.