UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has written to the President of the World Medical Association (WMA) urging it to reject calls to suspend the Israel Medical Association (IMA) from membership of the international body.

UKLFI argues that suspension of the IMA would amount to collective professional punishment imposed not for proven misconduct but because campaigners disagree with the association’s public statements.

The intervention follows publication in The Lancet of a petition calling for the IMA to be suspended from the WMA over its response to the war in Gaza. The petition, reportedly signed by more than 1,150 health professionals and organisations, claims that the IMA has failed to speak out sufficiently against alleged violations of medical ethics and international humanitarian law during the conflict.

In a letter sent on 19 June 2026, UKLFI argues that suspension of the IMA would be inconsistent with the WMA’s own constitution, ethical framework and established practice.

UKLFI points out that the WMA itself has publicly stated that it “stands against exclusion of any of its members for the actions of their governments” and that dialogue and engagement between physicians are essential to advancing medical ethics globally. The WMA has also stated that preserving dialogue among doctors is particularly important during periods of conflict and humanitarian crisis.

UKLFI explains that no identified act of misconduct by the IMA had been established. Instead, the calls for suspension are based largely on criticism that the IMA’s public statements have not been sufficiently condemnatory of the Israeli Government.

UKLFI states that disciplinary measures should be based on clearly identified obligations and demonstrable misconduct rather than disagreements over the tone, emphasis or perceived adequacy of public statements. The petition seeks suspension before any investigative or adjudicative process has taken place, reversing basic principles of procedural fairness.

UKLFI’s letter also rejects comparisons with the Medical Association of South Africa during the apartheid era. UKLFI notes that the South African controversy involved allegations of direct medical complicity in abuse, including the treatment of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko and the handling of doctors implicated in his death. By contrast, no international tribunal, regulator, WMA body or other authoritative institution has found that the IMA itself has committed war crimes, crimes against humanity or other misconduct.

UKLFI further highlights the WMA’s approach to allegations concerning China’s transplant system. Despite serious allegations and pressure campaigns calling for expulsion of the Chinese Medical Association, the WMA chose engagement, resolutions and ethical advocacy rather than exclusion. According to UKLFI, this demonstrates a longstanding WMA preference for dialogue and reform over institutional punishment.

UKLFI also challenged the factual basis of the petition. It notes that even The Lancet article acknowledges that the IMA has issued statements calling for respect for medical neutrality, international humanitarian law, humanitarian aid to Gaza civilians and humane treatment of prisoners and detainees. The IMA also expressed concern following an attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

In addition, the WMA itself has stated that the IMA participated in the development of WMA statements on Gaza and has repeatedly raised concerns with the Israeli Government. UKLFI argues that these actions cannot be reconciled with claims that the IMA has remained silent or ignored ethical concerns.

The letter also refers to public statements made by the IMA in July 2025 calling on Israeli authorities to ensure the entry of humanitarian aid and medical supplies into Gaza. According to reports cited by UKLFI, the IMA stated that such access was required by medical ethics, morality and international humanitarian law, and warned that reports of civilians being harmed while seeking aid would represent a serious violation of ethical and legal standards.

A UKLFI spokesperson said:

“Medical associations should be judged on evidence of actual misconduct, not on whether partisan activists approve of the wording of their public statements. The World Medical Association has consistently favoured engagement, dialogue and professional ethics over exclusion. Suspending the Israel Medical Association without any finding of wrongdoing would contradict those principles.”