Following the phenomenon of Arab Israeli doctors supporting terrorism and after a doctor from Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva was arrested on suspicion of pledging allegiance to ISIS, health-care professionals under the initiative of the Chotam‒Judaism on the Agenda organization appealed to the minister of health, demanding action on this issue.
Dr. Muhammad Azzam, a doctor working at Soroka, pledged allegiance to ISIS, the Israel Police and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said on Aug. 22.
Dozens of healthcare professionals have appealed to Health Minister Uriel Buso, demanding that he and the ministry take action on the issue of more and more Muslim doctors coming out in support of terrorist groups and their ideology.
Azzam, 34, is an Israeli originally from Nazareth who has been living in Beersheva, where he works as a specialist at the hospital, was arrested a month ago for pledging allegiance to ISIS. He was indicted on Aug. 8.
In a letter signed by 19 doctors, the medical professionals demanded tough measures against Arab terrorism within hospitals.
“Unfortunately, in recent years we have witnessed more and more cases of expressions of sympathy and support for Hamas, terrorists and terrorism among staff members in the healthcare system. This is a widespread and dangerous phenomenon that must be addressed,” the physicians wrote.
“The events of Oct. 7 should serve as a glaring red warning light for all of us. The same hospital where the ISIS-supporting doctor works dismissed a nurse after she complained about staff members at the hospital who praised those responsible for the Simchat Torah [Oct. 7] massacre, while the doctor continues to consume horrific and violent content. We hope you will work to uproot this phenomenon for the safety of Israeli citizens,” they added.
‘The worst experience of my life’
It should be noted that many Muslim doctors are proud Israelis and support Israel in the current war. One such man is Dr. Tarek Abu Arar from Arara B’Ngev, who was held hostage at gunpoint by Hamas terrorists for several hours on Oct. 7, works at Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon and volunteers in his free time with the United Hatzalah emergency medical service.
“This was the worst experience of my life. I have dedicated my life to helping others and saving lives, both in my profession as a doctor and my volunteering with United Hatzalah. To be forced to witness the horrible slaughter carried out in front of my eyes was terrible. I have no words to describe it,” Abu Arar said.
Rabbi Aviad Gadot, CEO of Chotam, said: “The health-care system must undergo a comprehensive overhaul. We are witnessing how progressive values are weakening the resilience of a healthcare system that is critical to the very existence of the state.
“Senior officials in the health-care system, who have lost the important connection to Jewish identity and values, have brought us to the extreme situation where an ISIS-supporting terrorist works as a doctor. As the doctors say, this is not an isolated incident, and there are many terrorism supporters within the system,” Gadot said. “We call on the minister of health, the minister of defense and the minister of national security to conduct a thorough review of this matter to fundamentally fix this crucial system for the benefit of all Israeli citizens.”
Nearly 100 Arab doctors from Judea and Samaria work in medical centers in Israel. Many of them enter Israel, using entry permits, with their cars bearing Palestinian Authority license plates. According to the Civil Administration, these doctors come to Israel to be trained “to work in the public health-care system in the Palestinian Authority.”
In quite a few cases, such doctors have incited terrorism. One such example was Dr. Anas Manasra from the Hebron area, who worked at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem. He “liked” a post in support of Hamas “military” leader Mohammed Deif. News outlet HaKol HaYehudi exposed the incident, and Manasra was subsequently dismissed from his job and his entry permit to Israel revoked.
