UK Pediatrician Linked to Palestine Poppy Controversy and Antisemitic Posts
A UK NHS pediatrician designed controversial Palestine poppy pins and compared Israel to cancer. Campaigners and politicians, including Nigel Farage, demand his dismissal.
Controversy Over Palestine Poppy Pins Created by UK Doctor
The designer behind the controversial "Palestine poppy" pin is a National Health Service (NHS) pediatrician in the United Kingdom, who previously compared Israel to a cancerous disease, the Telegraph has revealed. Dr. Abdul Qader Ismail, 41, from Birmingham, has been selling eBay pins shaped like a poppy in the colors of the Palestinian flag for 1.78 pounds, with proceeds donated to organizations campaigning to "end the occupation."
Last month, Ismail shared an illustration on social media showing a doctor looking through a microscope at diseased cells featuring an Israel flag, captioned: "This is the worst cancer I've ever seen." The post has since been deleted. According to the Campaign Against Antisemitism, linking Israel and its Jewish population to diseases is an ancient antisemitic trope. An organization spokesperson called the act sickening, especially coming from a physician expected to provide equal care, and announced they would report him to the General Medical Council.
Defense of October 7 Attacks and Calls for Dismissal
Additionally, in a deleted YouTube video, Ismail was seen defending the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, describing it as "armed resistance" lawful under international law. Although he condemned the attack in which 1,200 people were killed, he claimed it was "inevitable" for Palestinians to rise up.
"This is the worst cancer I've ever seen," wrote the doctor in a social media post depicting an Israel flag over diseased cells.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, responded to the Telegraph report by calling for Ismail to be sacked immediately from the health service. Lord Austin, trade envoy, also termed the remarks utterly disgusting and demanded an immediate investigation.
