CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY: The Decimation of Palestinian Healthcare in the Ongoing Genocide and the Continuing Legacy of Settler-Colonialism.

On October 13th, the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)will will host an inflammatory event titled “CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY: The Decimation of Palestinian Healthcare in the Ongoing Genocide and the Continuing Legacy of Settler-Colonialism.” at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. The event aims to promote antisemitic propaganda.  The guest speakers include individuals such as Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, Simon Fitzgerald, Abdel Aziz Al Bawab, and attorney Diala Shamas, who are expected to deliver testimonies that align with a one-sided narrative vilifying Israel and its healthcare system, while completely ignoring the complex realities of the ongoing conflict.

The event has already drawn sharp criticism from the Jewish American Medical Association (JAMA) and Jewish doctors across the country, who have condemned the event’s rhetoric as antisemitic and reminiscent of dangerous blood libels. The characterization of the Israel-Palestine conflict as “genocide” is deeply misleading and inflammatory, fueling further division and hatred. The inclusion of such a provocative and accusatory event on a medical campus is troubling, as it risks turning a discussion about healthcare into a political weapon. The event undermines the importance of medical neutrality and puts vulnerable communities at risk of being further polarized.

Organizers’ History:

The groups behind this event are known for their extreme rhetoric and calls for radical political change. Their protests often involve hostile messaging, sometimes glorifying resistance in ways that fuel aggression. This has led to increased concerns about the safety of both protestors and bystanders during their events.