[Salon] Medical students group suspends Israel for 2 years

[Chas Freeman <cwfresidence@gmail.com>]

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240812-medical-students-group-suspends-israel-for-2-years/

Medical students group suspends Israel for 2 years

Middle East Monitor

International Federation of Medical Student Associations (IFMSA) has suspended the Israeli medical students association for two years due to Tel Aviv’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and displating “a lack of morals and humanitarian values.”

The decision was taken after two thirds of the IFMSA voted in favour of the measure, according to a report.

According to a statement on the IFMSA website the vote was held “due to the dire nature of the allegations against the Federation of Israeli Medical Students (FIMS), which included threats against medical students, online harassment and hate speech.”

The decision was initiated by the Brazilian association, which sought to oust Israel from the IFMSA. However, the request was rejected, with two-thirds of the 123 countries agreeing to a two-year suspension that would be reviewed in August 2025 and August 2026.

Israel could face permanent removal from the international forum if the association’s decision is not reversed or remains unchanged.

Israeli representative Miri Schwimmer claimed the proposal was rushed through by the end of the meeting, bypassing standard procedures.

There have been widespread calls for Israel to be excluded from sports events, academic circles and other arenas in a similar fashion that apartheid South Africa was ostracised until its regime ended.