(Photo: X)
An NHS junior doctor accused of praising the October 7 Hamas attacks appeared at a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing wearing a gold necklace featuring a distinctive number seven charm.31-year-old Rahmeh Aladwan is facing allegations of antisemitism and posting social media content in support of Hamas, according to the Daily Mail. Aladwan is a trauma and orthopaedics doctor of British-Palestinian heritage. She previously faced similar claims but was cleared last month when the MPTS ruled her social media opinions did not constitute bullying or harassment. Her controversial posts have described the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead as a “Jewish supremacy cesspit”, called Israeli people “worse than Nazis”, and described the Holocaust as “a concept”. She has also called for Jihad during a protest in London, praising armed Palestinian fighters as “heroes” and saying Israel should be “dismantled”, according to the Daily Mail.The tribunal comes just days after Aladwan was arrested at her home on suspicion of inciting racial hatred and malicious communication. One charge relates to social media messages posted on October 7 supporting the Hamas attack on Israel. She remains on bail.Flanked by supporters, Aladwan wore the gold number seven charm alongside another chain with a green stone, previously visible on her social media, where she captioned similar posts as “Celebratory jewellery”. In other posts, she claimed Israel had been “humiliated” by the October 7 attacks.Ahead of the hearing, Aladwan accused authorities of persecution and targeting her for her speech. “I’m being persecuted for speech. They would be protected for murder,” she posted on X.Her legal team argued that the proceedings were an “abuse of process” and an attempt by the General Medical Council (GMC) to re-litigate matters already decided at a previous tribunal in September. Aladwan was previously not suspended despite the tribunal noting that Jewish patients might feel unsafe under her care. The doctor faces additional charges related to posts from pro-Palestine protests, including one outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in July, where she allegedly supported armed resistance against Israel. She has also described Palestinian militants as “martyrs” and referred to Israel as a “terrorist entity” that “must be dismantled”.The latest MPTS hearing was adjourned to a future date. A tribunal spokesperson said the panel will decide whether to impose interim restrictions or suspension on Aladwan’s medical licence while the investigation continues.
