Mount Sinai Doctor Fired After Supporting Hamas and Hezbollah in Controversial Posts

A social media post by Dr. Lila Abassi, 46, an assistant professor at Mount Sinai Upper East Side Hospital has sparked a significant controversy.

Pro-Hamas Comments by Dr. Abassi

Dr. Lila Abassi made a comment in a Facebook group for doctors about Hamas, a militant group which controls Gaza, and Hezbollah, which reportedly operates from Lebanon. Both groups are designated as terrorist organizations by multiple countries.

Using the pseudonym “Kluver-Bucy,” a reference to a rare neurological disorder affecting memory and behavior, she reportedly expressed support for Hamas and Hezbollah. Her statements included:

• “Long live Hamas and Hezbollah.”

• Accusing the Israeli army of “slaughtering babies” and referring to them as a “plague.”

• Denying reports of sexual violence during the October 7, 2023, attack, asking, “Please show me the actual videos.”

• Glorifying Hamas as “noble resistance and freedom fighters.”

She graduated from St. George's University School of Medicine in 2011 and completed her residency at SUNY Downstate.

Dr. Abassi's termination follows weeks of pressure from NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn), who argued that simply deleting her social media accounts wasn't enough.

“Our most basic expectation of doctors is that they perform their duties in an unbiased manner—especially in a city as ethnically and religiously diverse as ours,” Vernikov stated.

Alarming Rise of Anti-Semitism in Healthcare: A Growing Concern

Critics say that these recent incidents indicate a rise in anti-Semitic actions and remarks among healthcare professionals. Here are a few other examples:

1. Sydney Nurses Suspended - Two nurses in Australia were suspended for posting a video refusing to treat Israeli patients, prompting an investigation.

2. UK Doctor Faces Deportation - Egyptian doctor Dr. Minnah Elwan faced deportation from the United Kingdom after mocking Israeli citizens on social media.

A study co-authored by UIC’s Dr. Steven Roth, published in the Journal of Religion and Health, found that anti-Semitic experiences among Jewish healthcare professionals more than doubled after October 7, 2023. The survey revealed that 88% of respondents experienced anti-Semitism post-October 7, compared to 40% before. Analysts also examined tweets from healthcare professionals and found a significant increase in anti-Semitic mentions. ^[2,3]

Anti-Semitism Surging Globally

According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine (NLM), reports indicate that anti-Semitism is particularly prevalent in the medical field. Their report highlights incidents in:

• Canada: Jewish staff at the University of British Columbia encountered harassment, with students signing petitions against their presence in residency selection. In Ontario, Jewish doctors reported privacy violations and professional mistreatment.

• Australia: Reports of anti-Semitic incidents in healthcare increased by 427%. A study found nearly half of Jewish practitioners felt compelled to conceal their identity at work.

• United Kingdom: Reports of anti-Semitism to the General Medical Council rose fifteenfold. A British Medical Association officer circulated Holocaust denial and anti-Semitic rhetoric but faced minimal consequences.

• United States: Anti-Israel protests occurred at major hospitals like Mount Sinai and UCSF, where Jewish clinicians faced open hostility. In response, a new American Jewish Medical Association was established to combat discrimination and inequality. ^[4]

Strategies to Prevent Anti-Semitism in Healthcare

Dr. Roth warned that prejudice undermines the healthcare system. Along with co-author Hedy Wald, he proposed a “Four Es” strategy—Education, Engagement, Empathy, and Enforcement—to address anti-Semitism in medicine. He emphasized that education is key to challenging long-standing biases. ^[3]

References:

1. New York Post. 2025. "Mount Sinai Doctor Fired for Posts Denying October 7 Attacks." New York Post, March 29, 2025. https://nypost.com/2025/03/29/us-news/mount-sinai-doctor-fired-for-posts-denying-october-7-attacks/.

2. Schwartz, D.M., Leiba, R., Feldman, C.L. et al. Social Media, Survey, and Medical Literature Data Reveal Escalating Antisemitism Within the United States Healthcare Community. J Relig Health 64, 206–223 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-024-02191-5

3. University of Illinois Chicago. 2025. "Antisemitism Aimed at Health Care Professionals Has Grown Since 2023, Study Finds." UIC Today. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://today.uic.edu/antisemitism-aimed-at-health-care-professionals-has-grown-since-2023-study-finds/.

4. Gordon, M., Teitel, J., Rosenberg, T., Oratz, R., Katz, N., & Katz, D. (2025). Antisemitism in Medicine: An International Perspective. Rambam Maimonides medical journal, 16(1), e0004. https://doi.org/10.5041/RMMJ.10536

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Anjaly KTK/MSM)