Antisemitism and Medical Student Organizations

Maybe we’re old-fashioned, but when we were medical students, we focused on the needs of our patients, prioritized our patients above politics, and devoted ourselves to the welfare of individuals and global health. We never presumed that being a medical student rendered us authorities on foreign affairs or politics. The history of Nazi medicine infused a deep fear of mixing our dilettante political beliefs with our expert practice. We are disappointed to find that some modern medical students and their organizations do not share these views.  

On August 6, 2024, the International Federation of Medical Student Associations (IFMSA) voted to suspend the Federation of Israel Medical Students (FIMS) without due process because of allegations that FIMS has “a lack of morals and humanitarian values” related to the war in Gaza. 

Founded in 1951, IFMSA is a non-governmental organization representing medical student groups from 136 national member organizations. IFMSA has relationships with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN). 

The nebulous allegations made by IFMSA against FIMS seem to include a disagreement about the definition of genocide. IFMSA asserts that Israel’s attempts to recover hostages in a battlefield where Hamas employs human shields and uses schools and hospitals as bases meets the definition of genocide. FIMS had the temerity to say it did not. IFMSA further claims with no evidence at all that Hamas’s reported battlefield losses have actually been civilians, and that fully 8% of Gaza has perished – showing a troublesome level of data and media illiteracy for future physicians and taking a far more extreme position than even Hamas does.

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) is a member of IFMSA. To date, they have not responded to inquiries as to whether they support the suspension of FIMS. Nor have they indicated how they voted on the motion to suspend the Israeli medical student association.  AMSA is financially supported by member dues and sponsorship payments by several US medical schools, and has partnerships with many medically related US corporations.

While AMSA has not issued a comment on the suspension of Israel from IFMSA, their general stance, accompanied by a misuse of the word genocide, is clear. In April AMSA issued a statement standing “in solidarity with students of numerous institutions…demanding immediate action to address the ongoing genocide in Gaza…we condemn the role the United States has played as a funder and arms dealer, directly enabling this genocide…many universities are working with militarized local police forces to arrest students and faculty…AMSA condemns these actions taken by many universities as violent, unethical, immoral, and fascistic…”

According to IFMSA’s constitution, if a national association violates any law of the Federation’s constitution, an official investigation must be conducted, completed, and adequate proof of the violation must be presented. The process was not followed in Israel’s case., Despite a request from the delegations from Germany, Italy, and Luxembourg for a formal investigation, as mandated by IFMSA’s constitution, the suspension proceeded. FIMS was given two minutes to answer the nebulous allegations brought against it before the suspension vote was taken.

By August 9, IFMSA issued a follow-up statement in which it portrayed itself as a victim because of criticisms of its behavior. “The General Assembly, our highest body, should be respected and its autonomy preserved…We hold the protection of our volunteers’ personal space and their mental and physical safety as our highest priority. IFMSA reserves the right to action to protect its members and reputation.”

The absurdity and antisemitism of IFMSA and AMSA are obvious. To expel the Jewish state, they have both ignored their own internal rules and fabricated “evidence” that is not supported by the international press or even Hamas. IFMSA has chosen to suspend Israel but not suspend Russia regarding its invasion of Ukraine, Palestine for the Hamas-perpetrated murders, rapes, and hostage-taking of Israeli civilians, nor has it taken action against the medical student associations of China, Venezuela, Vietnam, Hungary, Cameroon, Afghanistan, or Iran for humanitarian abuses, denigration of women, restriction of religious freedoms, or dictatorial governments.

IFMSA and AMSA miss the point that the first responsibility of doctors-in-training is patient care and the generation, conservation, and dissemination of knowledge about the causes, prevention, and treatment of human disease. US medical schools, corporations, and international organizations that financially support AMSA and IFMSA must take immediate action. They should rethink contributing their dollars to organizations that promote, advance, or remain quiet when faced with medical antisemitism