Doctors' protest in the Netherlands: "Suspend the Israeli Medical Association"

Doctors and healthcare workers protested in Rotterdam demanding the suspension of the Israeli Medical Association from the World Medical Association, against the backdrop of the war in Gaza. Alongside the protest, a petition with over 3,000 signatures was promoted. The assembly adopted the Rotterdam Declaration to protect medical neutrality during conflicts, but no official decision was made to suspend the IMA.

The controversy over the protection of medical teams during wartime has reached outside the World Medical Association assembly in the Netherlands. Doctors, healthcare workers, and activists protested in Rotterdam demanding the suspension of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) from the global organization. The protest took place outside the World Trade Center, where the general assembly was held. Among the participants were co-founders of the BDS movement, Omar Barghouti, and surgeon Dr. Hussein Shomer. The protest was part of the IMA OUT campaign, held on October 8-10. Concurrently, organizers promoted a petition to suspend the IMA, which they claim has gathered over 3,000 signatures. Inside the assembly, the World Medical Association adopted the "Rotterdam Declaration" to protect medical neutrality during armed conflicts. The declaration calls on medical organizations to oppose violations of medical neutrality but does not include a decision to suspend the IMA. As of publication, no official confirmation of a suspension or a vote on the matter has been verified.