Renowned medical journal Lancet calls to suspend Israel from global medical body

Health organizations have petitioned the World Medical Association (WMA) to suspend the Israeli Medical Association (IMA), according to a report published by The Lancet. The petition cites the IMA’s failure to oppose the destruction of healthcare infrastructure and the killing of healthcare workers in Gaza. The WMA Congress is scheduled to meet in Rotterdam this October to consider the request.

Why are health organizations calling for the Israeli Medical Association’s suspension?

The petition was submitted by groups including the People’s Health Movement (PHM), Artsen voor Gaza (Doctors for Gaza), and the Health Advisory Council of the Jewish Voice for Peace. These organizations allege the IMA failed to speak out against the torture and killing of healthcare workers and the genocide of Palestinians.

Leslie London, a member of PHM South Africa and Emeritus Professor of Public Health at the University of Cape Town, told The Lancet that the IMA “colluded in the unspeakable treatment of Palestinians during this war.” The British Medical Association previously suspended ties with the IMA in June 2025.

Did You Know? The World Medical Association was established in 1947 primarily as a response to atrocities committed by doctors in Nazi Germany during World War II.

How has the World Medical Association responded to the petition?

The WMA told The Lancet it opposes excluding members based on the actions of their respective governments. The organization stated that such exclusions could diminish the ability to call out injustices and threaten the dialogue among physicians.

The WMA further noted that the IMA is a founding member and has been a “strong advocate for WMA ethics and policies.” The organization emphasized that consensus in support of medical ethics is needed during this critical time.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that this conflict highlights a fundamental tension in global health: the struggle to balance the political accountability of national medical bodies against the necessity of maintaining a neutral, collaborative framework for scientific advancement.

What are the potential impacts of a medical boycott?

Dr. Afshine Emrani, an Iranian-Jewish cardiologist, wrote an open letter to The Lancet arguing that a boycott could destroy critical medical innovations developed in Israel. He specifically cited PillCam for GI diagnosis, ReWalk robotic exoskeletons for paralyzed patients, and AI diagnostics for cancer and cardiac imaging.

Emrani stated that suspending the IMA may sever research collaborations and training partnerships rather than punishing a government. He argued that the neutrality of global medicine is destroyed when medical bodies are expelled based on “political litmus tests.”

Are there double standards in the suspension requests?

Dr. Emrani highlighted a contrast in how the WMA treats different member nations. He pointed out that medical associations in Russia, North Korea, and Iran do not face similar boycott campaigns, despite the Iranian regime executing physicians and denying healthcare to political prisoners as policy.

This debate follows previous controversies involving The Lancet. In July 2024, the journal published a correspondence piece by doctors Rasha Khatib, Martin McKee, and Salim Yusuf estimating that up to 186,000 deaths could be attributable to the conflict in Gaza. Professor Martin McKee later retracted those figures, stating they were “purely illustrative” and had been misinterpreted.

What may happen next?

The WMA Congress may vote on the petition during its meeting in Rotterdam in October. A possible outcome is the formal suspension of the IMA, which could lead to the cessation of specific research and training partnerships. Alternatively, the WMA could maintain its current stance against the exclusion of members based on government actions to preserve physician dialogue.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the WMA consider the petition to suspend the IMA?
The WMA Congress will meet in Rotterdam in October to consider the petition.

Which medical technologies did Dr. Afshine Emrani say could be affected?
He listed PillCam, ReWalk robotic exoskeletons, and breakthrough AI diagnostics for cancer detection and cardiac imaging.

Has any other medical association already cut ties with the IMA?
The British Medical Association suspended ties with the IMA in June 2025.

Do you believe medical associations should be held accountable for the actions of their national governments?