Palestinian medics in Israel face incitement over unproven patient abuse claims
A body representing Palestinian citizens of Israel has condemned what it called an “obsessive campaign of incitement” by Israeli ministers against Arab medical staff in recent days.
The High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel was referring to comments by Defence Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who called for an investigation into allegations that Arab medical workers mistreated wounded Israeli soldiers.
The claims were made by relatives of a soldier wounded in Lebanon and treated at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa.
Yehoshua Shani, chairman of a forum that opposes the Gaza ceasefire and supports continuing the war, claimed his nephew was mistreated by Arab staff at the hospital.
In a post on X on Sunday, Shani said the nurses on duty were all “Arabic speakers” who ignored the patient’s request for water and turned him over in his bed “like a sardine”, hitting his head against the bed.
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David Chesterman, the soldier’s brother, made similar claims on Instagram.
He said the family had been denied entry to his brother’s room, which is standard procedure in intensive care units.
“I broke down the door to make sure he was okay. He wasn’t. He begged for water and no one was around,” Chesterman claimed.
“He whispered to me that they had brutally turned him over in bed ‘like a sardine,’ his head was slammed against the bed and no one cared.”
The unproven allegations were subsequently amplified by Katz and Ben Gvir.
“I view with great seriousness the testimonies that have been published regarding the behaviour toward wounded IDF (Israeli army) soldiers in the hospital,” Katz said.
“I have instructed the IDF (Israeli army) to immediately and thoroughly examine all the allegations that have been raised with the hospital and the relevant parties,” he added.
Ben Gvir said: “If the disturbing testimonies coming from Rambam hospital are true, this is a grave scandal that should trouble every citizen in Israel.”
He said the allegations “demand an immediate, thorough, and un-whitewashed investigation, including an examination of whether in some cases this constitutes harassment on a nationalist basis”.
'Disappointing' hospital response
Rambam said after reviewing the incident that it “rejects the claims that the patient was treated inappropriately”.
Some Palestinian doctors, however, criticised the hospital’s response, saying it failed to address the allegations targeting Arab medical staff, according to Haaretz.
“At the end of the day, this is an attack on all Arab medical staff,” one medical professional said.
The hospital’s director, Dr Michal Makel, later sent an internal message of support to staff.
“Any attempt to make generalisations or create divisions among staff members based on language, background or identity is unacceptable and does not reflect the spirit of Rambam,” Makel wrote, according to Haaretz.
One Palestinian medical professional said the hospital’s response was insufficient.
“If there isn't clear, unequivocal and public backing even from the hospital itself, it is insulting and disappointing,” the professional said.
The High Follow-Up Committee, an umbrella organisation representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, condemned the ministers for using the allegations to “incite” against Arab doctors.
“Fascists launch campaigns spreading lies and baseless accusations for no reason other than that those targeted are Arabs,” it said.
“There have been many allegations and accusations, but no one has produced any evidence that any member of the Arab medical teams discriminated between patients.”
It added that such racist campaigns of incitement against Arab medical staff in hospitals and medical institutions have been ongoing for a long time in Israel.
“There are those who are displeased by the high proportion of Arabs working in the health sector: male and female doctors, nurses, pharmacists and others working in the field.”
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