A psychiatry instructor at Harvard Medical School, Malak Shafik Rafla has used his professional platform not to foster healing or education—but to push radical political messaging that demonizes Israel, undermines institutional trust, and fuels campus extremism. As a vocal member of Harvard’s anti-Israel faculty bloc, Rafla’s record reflects a troubling pattern: repeated public endorsements of divestment, academic boycotts, and politicized medicine in service of anti-Zionist activism.

Driving Campus Radicalism at Harvard

Rafla is a signatory of numerous anti-Israel faculty statements and has become an active participant in protests, petitions, and political actions aimed at severing academic, medical, and financial ties with Israeli institutions. Rather than promoting peace or dialogue, Rafla repeatedly frames Israel as a genocidal state while pushing activist language into the realm of mental health and healthcare.

• April 2024: Participated in the Harvard encampment, publicly demanding that the university “disclose and divest” from any Israel-affiliated institutions.

• May 2024: Spoke at the People’s Commencement, an alternative graduation ceremony designed to protest Harvard’s official event and amplify radical messages.

• January 2025: Joined a healthcare workers rally for Gaza, blending psychiatry with political incitement.

Boycotting Jewish Institutions

Rafla has publicly endorsed academic boycotts of Israeli universities and framed such moves as necessary acts of conscience—regardless of their discriminatory impact.

• March 2024: Signed a call to boycott Hebrew University, one of Israel’s leading research institutions.

• January 2024: Signed the now-removed Harvard Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine statement, which sought to legitimize campus opposition to Israel as a form of protected speech.

Medical Ethics Abandoned for Political Theater

Rafla has repeatedly politicized healthcare discourse, signing petitions and giving speeches that allege genocide without evidence while calling on U.S. health agencies and medical institutions to condemn Israel.

• October 2024: Co-signed an “urgent appeal” to the CDC, NIH, and medical association leaders, accusing Israel of targeting healthcare workers and demanding global condemnation.

• February 2024: Signed a petition to President Joe Biden by Harvard Affiliates for Peace, inserting partisan rhetoric into matters of national diplomacy and health advocacy.

Undermining Institutional Integrity

By signing onto a November 2023 Harvard faculty statement, Rafla and others framed Harvard’s antisemitism task force as a threat to academic freedom, effectively positioning faculty oversight as an enemy of free speech. This narrative seeks to discredit any efforts to hold radical faculty accountable, even as campus safety deteriorates.

Quotes and Public Messaging

“Disclose and divest!”
— Rafla’s rally cry at the April 2024 encampment, aligning psychiatry with anti-Israel economic pressure

“Healthcare and children in Gaza must be protected from Israeli aggression.”
— From the October 2024 medical letter co-signed by Rafla

A Political Radical in a Medical Role

Malak Rafla is not just a medical instructor—he’s an activist who uses his affiliation with Harvard to amplify radical political campaigns. His actions reflect a consistent push to dismantle academic neutrality, weaponize public health rhetoric, and delegitimize Israel through faculty organizing and staged demonstrations.

His presence on campus raises serious concerns: Is Harvard Medical School endorsing radicalism under the guise of healthcare?
And more importantly: Why is a psychiatry instructor inciting political action rather than teaching medicine?