‘Antisemitic’ kids’s physician who hailed Hamas terrorists as ‘resistance fighters’ and claimed ribbons worn in assist of hostages have been an indication of ‘Jewish supremacy’ is suspended
An NHS children’s doctor who hailed Hamas terrorists as ‘resistance fighters’ and claimed that yellow ribbons worn in support of Israeli hostages were a sign of ‘Jewish supremacy’ has been suspended from practising.
Dr Ellen Kriesels, a consultant developmental paediatrician at London‘s Whittington Hospital, was photographed at a pro-Palestinian demonstration carrying a placard displaying an Israeli flag surrounded by the words: ‘Rape, steal, cry, kill, cheat, lie.’
She also wrote posts on X, formerly Twitter, describing Judaism as a ‘racist, imperialist and genocidal religion.’
Dr Kriesels appeared today at a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service interim orders tribunal in Manchester after concerns were raised about her fitness to practise.
The General Medical Council asked the panel to impose an 18-month suspension due to concerns about patient safety and public confidence in the medical profession.
But Dr Kriesels claimed she was the victim of ‘orchestrated harassment’, while her lawyer argued that suspending her for ‘expressing opinions about genocide in Gaza’ would have a ‘chilling effect’ on free speech.
This evening the panel imposed a nine-month interim suspension, saying members of the public may believe she holds ‘biased views’ and be hesitant to be treated by Dr Kriesels.
Noting that she works in ‘a largely Jewish area’, it said she ‘could pose a real risk to public safety’.
The hearing was attended by supporters including fellow NHS doctor Dr Rahmeh Aladwan.
Dr Ellen Kriesels, a consultant developmental paediatrician at London’s Whittington Hospital, arriving at a medical tribunal in Manchester today where the General Medical Council sought her suspension over a slew of ‘racist’ and ‘antisemitic’ posts
NHS paediatrician Dr Ellen Kriesels pictured at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in September carrying a placard displaying an Israeli flag surrounded by the words: ‘Rape, steal, cry, kill, cheat, lie’
Dr Aladwan appeared before the same tribunal last month accused of anti-semitism and supporting terrorism – just days after being arrested by police on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.
Among the posts written by Dr Kriesels which the GMC allege are antisemitic and racist include one reading: ‘Most Jews, Zionist or not, centre their Jewish identity in the midst of this genocide which is “proof” of supremacy.’
She claimed Hamas was a political party and its members ‘oppressed resistance fighters, not terrorists’ and that yellow ribbons, worn in support of Israeli hostages, were ‘a visual sign of Jewish supremacy.’
Talking about October 7 Hamas attack on Israel which killed 1,200 people, she said: ‘Some Jews “merely” say it was a progrom [sic].
‘Other Jews “merely” say that it was antisemitic. Always trying to frame the Jews as victims.
‘So ridiculous. So excruciating. So exhausting.’
And in response to a comment by the actress Miriam Margolyes about Gaza that ‘Hitler won; he changed us’, Dr Kriesels said: ‘Why mention your sense of victimhood AT ALL when your fellow Jews are committing a gleeful genocide.’
Addressing the posts, counsel for the GMC Isobel Thomas said they were ‘a threat to patient safety’.
Junior doctor Rahmeh Aladwan – who is accused of repeatedly showing support for the October 7 Hamas attacks – pictured arriving at her own tribunal last month wearing a necklace with a distinctive gold charm showing the number ‘seven’
‘Her antisemitic views may impact on her ability to provide safe care to members of the population,’ she said.
‘Jewish families may be concerned they will not receive impartial care from her.’
Ms Thomas said the GMC had received a complaint about the doctor from UK Lawyers for Israel, while the hospital trust had received more than 1,500 emails, many from patients, alleging that Dr Kriesel’s comments were ‘antisemitic and racist’.
Colleagues had also expressed concern about working with her, she said, and the trust had launched a preliminary investigation and suspended her in September.
A complaint was also made to police, the tribunal heard, but no action was taken.
The trust had asked her take down the posts but she’d refused, Ms Thomas said.
When challenged about the placard, Dr Kriesels said ‘it doesn’t matter what people say’ and she was ‘only expressing facts’.
Dr Kriesels claims her actions were not antisemitic or racist but ‘anti-Zionist’, and she’d acted in personal capacity not as a NHS doctor.
She was the victim of ‘orchestrated harassment’, the tribunal heard, and the allegations against her led to concerns about her personal safety.
Giving evidence, Dr Kriesels said she had been deeply affected by the ‘genocide’ in Gaza and ‘horrified’ by what Israel was doing.
Working with ‘vulnerable’ children in her job but seeing children killed in Gaza meant she had a moral obligation to act and ‘standing idle would be morally complicit’, she said,
‘I believe Zionism results in terrorism for Palestinians and Zionism should be demolished,’ she claimed.
She added that the GMC should protect doctors from ‘vexatious accusations’ and ‘shouldn’t be policing matters of free speech’.
Richard O’Dair, the doctor’s counsel, argued that she had never been the subject of any complaints in her 14 years of clinical practice.
A suspension for ‘expressing opinions about genocide in Gaza’ would have a ‘chilling effect’ on free speech, he said.
Dr Aladwan’s hearing was last month adjourned to a future date after the tribunal rejected an application by her lawyers to stay proceedings.
