A junior doctor who mocked terrified civilians fleeing Hamas gunmen is named as one of 2,000 medics demanding officials tear down an Israel flag.
Dr Mennah Elwan is listed as a signatory of the online petition, which attacks Israel for allegedly ‘committing inhumane war crimes and acts of genocide’.
It doesn’t mention any of the atrocities carried out by pro-Palestinian terrorists who slaughtered innocent civilians as part of an unprecedented assault.
In the wake of Hamas’ horrifying attacks, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) raised the Israeli flag over its London headquarters last week.
Posting an image of the flag on X, formerly known as Twitter, on October 13, DHSC’s official account wrote: ‘We are flying the flag of Israel at the Department of Health & Social Care in London.
Dr Mennah Elwan in her British Medical Association kit during NHS industrial action organised by the union
![The petition has 2,006 apparent signatures from UK medics, with online form asking them to list their 'appropriate title' and 'healthcare profession/specialty'.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/17/14/76657737-12639663-image-a-22_1697548359071.jpg)
The petition has 2,006 apparent signatures from UK medics, with online form asking them to list their ‘appropriate title’ and ‘healthcare profession/specialty’.
![Medics took offence to the Department of Health and Social Care flying the Israeli flag in London last week](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/17/15/76657743-12639663-image-m-1_1697553874788.jpg)
Medics took offence to the Department of Health and Social Care flying the Israeli flag in London last week
‘We stand in solidarity with the people of Israel.’
Yet some medics called it ‘totally unacceptable’ because it ‘makes no recognition of the loss of Palestinians life at the hands of the State of Israel’.
The open letter — aimed at healthcare professionals — was organised by NHS doctor Ayo Khalil.
At the time of publication, it had 2,006 signatures on an online form that simply asks for ‘appropriate title’ and ‘healthcare profession/specialty’.
This includes some claiming to be GPs, junior doctors, midwives, dentists and pharmacists, including many who state they work for the NHS.
It said the DHSC’s decision to wave the Israel flag ‘demonstrates a flagrant disregard of international law violations and healthcare crises Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from’.
Israel has since embarked on a retaliation bombing campaign of Gaza, promising to destroy Hamas hideouts, infrastructure and command centres.
The petition goes on to highlight the siege of Gaza enacted by the Israeli military, and how civilians have been cut off from accessing clean water, food, and energy.
The letter reads: ‘The trauma inflicted upon Palestinian men, women and children at this time and over the last decades of displacement and occupation has permanently scarred whole communities and many generations.’
The petition lists four demands, including that the DHSC removes to Israeli flag and retracts its statement of support.
It also calls for the DHSC, headed up by Health Secretary Steve Barclay, to officially condemn ‘the the inexcusable war crimes committed by the state of Israel against Palestinian civilians in Gaza’.
The other demands include making efforts to donate resources and equipment to Palestinian health services and that medical unions ‘denounce the stance taken by the DHSC in supporting a state that is clearly committing inhumane war crimes and acts of genocide’.
Organisations named directly in the petition, the British Medical Association (BMA), the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council were contacted for comment by MailOnline.
The BMA and GMC declined to comment on the petition.
Hamas gunmen infiltrated Israel’s southern regions in a surprise attack on October 7 that killed hundreds of unarmed civilians. One of the bloodiest attacks occurred at a music festival, the same one Dr Elwan mocked.
Israel’s death tolls since the horrifying campaign now stands at 1,400, including soldiers.
Its retaliation campaign has also claimed the lives of some 2,750 Palestinians, with another 10,000 wounded, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The petition has also seemingly attracted medics with shocking views about the conflict such as Dr Elwan, whose name was listed.
Earlier this month, MailOnline revealed how the doctor mocked reposted horrifying footage of terrorists opening fire on innocent party-goers.
![Dr Elwan, a neurology registrar, posted on social media mocking people fleeing a massacre by Hamas at a music festival](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/17/13/76331601-12639663-Dr_Elwan_a_neurology_registrar_posted_on_social_media_mocking_pe-a-5_1697546440773.jpg)
Dr Elwan, a neurology registrar, posted on social media mocking people fleeing a massacre by Hamas at a music festival
![A ball of fire and smoke rise above buildings during an Israeli strike on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 15, 2023. Israel embarked on a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza after they carried out a brutal attack on Israel on October 7 that left more than 1,400 people killed in Israel](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/17/13/76604699-12639663-A_ball_of_fire_and_smoke_rise_above_buildings_during_an_Israeli_-a-7_1697546910194.jpg)
A ball of fire and smoke rise above buildings during an Israeli strike on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 15, 2023. Israel embarked on a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza after they carried out a brutal attack on Israel on October 7 that left more than 1,400 people killed in Israel
Her statements led to groups like the Campaign Against Antisemitism calling for her to be suspended from the NHS and investigated by the UK’s medical regulator.
Tory sources also told this website said Dr Elwan should face ‘immediate disciplinary action’ for the ‘sickening’ comments.
Dr Elwan’s NHS employer, the Walton Centre — a major neurology site in Liverpool — said it did not ‘support any behaviour that marginalises an individual or community’.
Reposting a terrifying clip of people attempting to dash to safety at the Supernova Festival, which took place close to the Gaza Strip, she wrote: ‘If it was your home, you would stay and fight. You wouldn’t just run away.’
The Egyptian-trained Dr Elwan then closed off her statement with a smiley emoji.
People could be heard screaming as shots are fired while police were seen trying to help people evacuate.
Other footage from the incident has since emerged showing gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets.
Corpses of victims from the festival had to be piled up in makeshift tents as Israeli emergency responders worked to identify their remains.
In another post, Dr Elwan also appeared to support the wave of horrific violence towards Israeli civilians and tourists during the attacks.
She wrote: ‘Israel kills Palestinians everyday, didn’t see anyone caring’, again ending the statement with a smiley face emoji.
Dr Elwan went on to add: ‘Also, there are no civilians in Israel.’
Other signatories appear to include Dr Siema Iqbal, a GP partner at the Wellfield Medical Centre in Manchester.
As Israel reeled from the attacks earlier this month, Dr Iqbal posted that Palestine ‘has every right to fight against the occupation’
![A Palestinian man walks amid the rubble of buildings destroyed during Israeli air strikes near his home in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern of Gaza Strip, on October 16, 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/17/13/76604717-12639663-A_Palestinian_man_walks_amid_the_rubble_of_buildings_destroyed_d-a-1_1697546409779.jpg)
A Palestinian man walks amid the rubble of buildings destroyed during Israeli air strikes near his home in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern of Gaza Strip, on October 16, 2023
![Palestinians search for casualties under the rubble of a house destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 16, 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/17/13/76604687-12639663-Palestinians_search_for_casualties_under_the_rubble_of_a_house_d-a-3_1697546426986.jpg)
Palestinians search for casualties under the rubble of a house destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 16, 2023
![Palestinian children injured during Israeli raids in the southern Gaza Strip arrive on October 16, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/17/13/76607439-12639663-Palestinian_children_injured_during_Israeli_raids_in_the_souther-a-2_1697546414326.jpg)
Palestinian children injured during Israeli raids in the southern Gaza Strip arrive on October 16, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza
And a separate post she shared on Facebook described those who carried out the bloody attacks over the weekend as a ‘Palestinian resistance fighters’.
Another UK medic, previously highlighted by MailOnline for questionable posts about the conflict, Dr Clarissa Hemmingsen, is another apparent signatory.
Writing on X she said: ‘Those on Med [medical] Twitter who find themselves able to justify acts of colonialism, ethnic cleansing, apartheid, imprisonment of children, and the routine carpet bombing of hospitals should really consider whether they belong in a caring profession.’
Her comment was in response to a Jewish doctor who called out medics who ‘find themselves able to justify acts of terrorism’ if they belong in a caring profession.
Dr Hemmingsen also liked a post on October 7 – the day of the bloody Hamas attacks – that declared the new ‘Palestinian resistance emoji’ as the parachute.
This emoji references how some Hamas gunmen entered Israel using paragliders to circumvent border security forces and attack unarmed civilians.
As the petition can, in theory, be signed by any person using any name, it cannot be verified that the signatories are who they claim to be.
A DHSC spokesperson said: ‘The Department of Health and Social Care stands in solidarity with the people of Israel following the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas last week.
‘Like many government departments we flew the Israeli flag as show of support for the Israeli people and the Jewish community here in the United Kingdom.’
![Dr Siema Iqbal, a GP partner at the Wellfield Medical Centre in Manchester,](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/17/13/76385977-12639663-Dr_Siema_Iqbal_a_GP_partner_at_the_Wellfield_Medical_Centre_in_M-a-15_1697547113259.jpg)
Dr Siema Iqbal, a GP partner at the Wellfield Medical Centre in Manchester, posted that Palestine ‘has every right to fight against the occupation’
![A post shared on Facebook by Dr Iqbal described the terrorists who carried out the attacks as 'Palestinian resistance fighters'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/17/13/76423217-12639663-A_separate_post_shared_on_Facebook_by_Dr_Iqbal_described_the_ter-a-16_1697547116158.jpg)
A post shared on Facebook by Dr Iqbal described the terrorists who carried out the attacks as ‘Palestinian resistance fighters’
![Dr Clarissa Hemmingsen, who works on the Isle of Man, also defended this weekend's bloody attacks](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/17/13/76385969-12639663-Dr_Clarissa_Hemmingsen_who_works_on_the_Isle_of_Man_also_defende-a-17_1697547134860.jpg)
Dr Clarissa Hemmingsen, who works on the Isle of Man, also defended this weekend’s bloody attacks
![Dr Hemmingsen, who studied at the University of Manchester, said medics should reconsider if they belong in a caring profession if they can 'justify acts of colonialism'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/17/13/76385975-12639663-Dr_Hemmingsen_who_studied_at_the_University_of_Manchester_said_m-a-18_1697547144770.jpg)
Dr Hemmingsen, who studied at the University of Manchester, said medics should reconsider if they belong in a caring profession if they can ‘justify acts of colonialism’
It comes as more than a million people have fled their homes in the besieged Gaza Strip in the past week ahead of an expected Israeli invasion that seeks to eliminate Hamas’ leadership after its deadly attack.
The enclave’s food and water supplies are dwindling, with its hospitals warning that they are on the brink of collapse.
Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of US warships in the region and the call-up of some 360,000 reservists, have positioned themselves along Gaza’s border.
They are preparing for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group.
Israel said it has already struck dozens of military targets, including command centres and rocket launchers, and killed Hamas commanders.
Officials in Israel have given no timetable for a ground incursion that aid groups warn could hasten a humanitarian crisis in the coastal Gaza enclave.
Horrific scenes from the ongoing war show civilians desperately trying to dig trapped people out of bombed out buildings with wounded children being pulled from the rubble.
Israel has said the siege will only be lifted when the captives are returned.
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