A senior NHS doctor has been suspended for 15 months after a tribunal found he praised Hamas attacks and wore a necklace celebrating the October 7 atrocities to his disciplinary hearing.
Controversial Comments and Jewellery
Dr. Ahmed Alkhallaf, a 55-year-old respiratory consultant, faced the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) over social media posts supporting Hamas's violent actions against Israel. The doctor, who worked at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, made comments described as "glorifying and celebrating" the terrorist attacks that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis.
During his tribunal appearance, Dr. Alkhallaf wore a necklace featuring the Palestinian flag and the date "7/10" - the day of the Hamas attacks. Tribunal chair Andrew Hockton noted this demonstrated the consultant's "apparent lack of insight" into the seriousness of his actions.
Social Media Posts Under Scrutiny
The tribunal examined multiple social media posts made by Dr. Alkhallaf following the October 7 attacks. In one post, he described the Hamas militants as "freedom fighters" and shared content justifying the violence against Israeli civilians.
Another post seen by the tribunal allegedly claimed the attacks were a "legitimate response to occupation" and included celebratory messages about the violence. These posts remained visible on his social media profiles for several weeks before being removed.
Tribunal Findings and Suspension
The MPTS determined that Dr. Alkhallaf's actions amounted to serious professional misconduct. The 15-month suspension was imposed to protect public confidence in the medical profession and send a clear message about the unacceptability of such behaviour.
In his ruling, Mr Hockton stated: "The tribunal was of the view that your actions have brought the profession into disrepute." He emphasised that doctors hold positions of trust and must maintain professional standards both inside and outside clinical settings.
The suspension means Dr. Alkhallaf cannot practise medicine in the UK during this period and must undergo retraining and reflection before any potential return to practice. The tribunal also imposed conditions requiring him to complete professional ethics training.
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust confirmed they had suspended Dr. Alkhallaf pending the tribunal's outcome and would now review his position following the 15-month suspension ruling.
