Coverage Comparison
A petition published in The Lancet on Saturday, June 14, 2026, calls for the suspension of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) from the World Medical Association (WMA). The petition, coordinated by the People’s Health Movement, Artsen voor Gaza (Doctors for Gaza), and the Health Advisory Council of Jewish Voice for Peace, alleges the IMA failed to speak out against "the genocide of Palestinians, the destruction of health-care infrastructure, and the torture and killing of health-care workers in Gaza." The WMA Congress is set to consider the petition in Rotterdam in October.
Three articles from The Jerusalem Post—an editorial and two news reports—cover the story. All three confirm the core facts: the petition’s publication, its backers, and the WMA’s stated opposition to expelling members for government actions. However, the editorial and the news reports differ in tone and emphasis. The editorial frames the petition as a "dangerous precedent" that politicizes medicine, while the news reports present the IMA’s response and the WMA’s official position more neutrally.
Key Claims
The petition, published by The Lancet and backed by several health advocacy groups, seeks the IMA’s suspension from the WMA. The petition’s supporters argue that medical professionals have a moral obligation to condemn violations of international law and attacks on healthcare workers.
The WMA has responded that it stands against the exclusion of any member for the actions of their governments, stating that doing so "diminishes our ability to call out injustices, and threatens shrinking the dialogue among physicians at this critical time when consensus in support of our medical ethics is so needed.” The WMA also noted that the IMA is a founding member and a "strong advocate for WMA ethics and policies."
The IMA has prepared a counter-petition arguing that medicine is not the place to play politics. Malke Borow, Director of the Division of Law and Policy at the IMA, told The Jerusalem Post that the petition is "childish" and that the IMA has "many friends and supporters" within the WMA. She also noted that this is not the first attempt to expel the IMA; a similar petition occurred about 20 years ago.
In July 2025, the British Medical Association suspended ties with the IMA, according to the reports. The Lancet had previously published a 2024 piece claiming up to 186,000 deaths could be attributable to the conflict in Gaza, a figure cited in the petition’s context.
Perspectives
The editorial, authored by the JPost Editorial Board, condemns the petition as a "thinly veiled attempt" to create new injustices. It argues that the WMA, founded after World War II to transcend politics, would set a dangerous precedent by expelling a national medical association for perceived failures to oppose government policies. The editorial also defends the IMA’s record, suggesting that critics demand Israelis "join the choir of blood libels."
The news reports quote IMA officials and the WMA. Borow dismissed the petition as "childish" and expressed confidence in the IMA’s position. 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."
The WMA’s response, as quoted, emphasizes the importance of dialogue and opposition to exclusion. An open letter from Iranian-Jewish cardiologist Dr. Afshine Emrani, published in response, called the petition "a disgrace to my profession," citing the IMA’s contributions to medical innovation, including PillCam and ReWalk.
Conclusion
The petition to suspend the IMA from the WMA highlights tensions between medical ethics and political accountability. The WMA’s opposition to the suspension, the IMA’s defensive stance, and the supporters’ moral arguments present a complex picture. The outcome of the October congress remains uncertain, but the debate raises fundamental questions about the role of medical associations in geopolitical conflicts.