9 September 2025
A prominent Israeli doctor who regularly serves in the IDF has been successfully removed from the World Congress of the Global Society on Migration, Ethnicity, Race and Health, but he remains a vice-president of the Society and has received an invitation to speak at the Congress. Please consider signing the letter below calling for his removal unless he issues a statement clarifying his current and historical role with the IDF and in line with the UN ICJ and Amnesty International, acknowledging the illegal occupation, the acts of genocide and calling for Israel to end the occupation, dismantle settlements and provide reparations, including the right to self determination and the right of return.
Sign Up to Support the Letter: GSMERH Values—A Call to Remove Speakers and Committee Members Complicit in Occupation and Genocide
Here is the link to the GSMERH petition
By signing the letter in the link above, you support the open letter addressed to the GSMERH 2nd World Congress organizers regarding the participation and role of Professor Nadav Davidovitch. Please review the full letter before signing.
Update (08/09/2025): Prof Nadav Davidovitch was successfully removed from the World Congress through support from student organisations and faculties at Nova University and ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon. We are continuing to collect signatures as Prof Davidovitch remains Vice President of GSMERH’s Board of Trustees. OPEN LETTER: GSMERH Values—A Call to Remove Speakers and Committee Members Complicit in Occupation and Genocide
August 25, 2025
Dear GSMERH Board of Trustees and World Congress Executive Committee,
We, the undersigned, ask that the GSMERH Board of Trustees formally removes Professor Nadav Davidovitch as their Vice President, and that the Executive Committee formally rescinds its invitation for him to present at the 2nd World Congress on Migration, Ethnicity, Race & Health and removes him from the Congress Funding Committee unless he issues an appropriate public statement (see below for details on what this should include).
Prof Davidovitch is a public health physician and professor at Ben Gurion University in the State of Israel. He is also the Chair of the Public Health Forum in Israel, a member of various committees of the Israeli Ministry of Health and the official Israel representative on the Executive Committee of the European Public Health Association [1]. The following are quotes regarding his affiliations with the Israeli military and government from a webinar [2] that he participated in with the Taub Center in 2023:
- Presenter: “Nadav also serves and has served as a military physician”
- Presenter: “He is in reserves – he’s a Lieutenant Colonel in the reserves. He was Commander of the Southern Command Medical Unit in Operation Protective Edge” (the 2014 War on Gaza)
- Nadav Davidovitch: “I’ve been engaged with emergencies both serving in the military and also being in the Ministry of Health”
- Nadav Davidovitch: “I was myself in South Lebanon also being attacked by terrorists, as Avi said, I was the commander of a unit of more than a thousand physician medics, paramedics, nurses during the last Gaza war”
In his work, Davidovitch omits Israel’s active and continuous role in the destruction of Palestinian population and communities, and does not acknowledge the illegal occupation or acts of genocide. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) have issued guidelines for academics around the world to align with the Palestinian call for boycott “as a contribution towards upholding international law and furthering the struggle for freedom, justice and equality” [3]. Prof Davidovitch’s prominent roles in the Israeli military, government committees, and as the Israeli representative in international organisations, alongside no explicit public evidence of his recognition of the comprehensive Palestinian rights under international law, constitute sufficient grounds for his boycott.
In light of this, we demand that the GSMERH leadership remove him from the GSMERH Board of Trustees and from the World Congress unless he issues a public statement:
- Clarifying his current and historical role with the IDF
AND
- In line with the UN ICJ and Amnesty International, acknowledging the illegal occupation, the acts of genocide and calling for Israel to end the occupation, dismantle settlements and provide reparations, including the right to self determination and the right of return.
We clearly emphasize that this is not a personal attack against Prof Davidovitch, but a call to avoid complicity in an illegal occupation and genocide. We would like to remind you of the words of Desmond Tutu: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor”.
References:
1 Nadav Davidovitch. Loop. https://loop.frontiersin.org/CDN/Images/Profile//121782 (accessed 23 August 2025)
2 Taub Center-מרכז טאוב. Nadav Davidovich talks about the war in Israel through his perspective as an expert in public health. 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs-slN_Ngkc (accessed 22 August 2025)
UPDATE: this video was removed following the raising of these concerns with GSMERH – as of 20/08/2025 it is now available via this link: https://youtu.be/Sa0omviHMQk?si=XFDFFbr6a9NXw3wA
UPDATE 2: video link now available here (as of 08/09/2025): https://x.com/tanrejaqbr74255
3 PACBI Guidelines for the International Academic Boycott of Israel. BDS Movement. https://www.bdsmovement.net/pacbi/academic-boycott-guidelines (accessed 25 August 2025)
Signed (updated 08/09/25)
- Oumnia Bouaddi MD, Barcelona Institute for Global Health
- Farah Seedat PhD, City St George’s University of London
- Yamina Boukari PhD, University of Oxford
- Taha Maatoug MD, Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona – ISGLOBAL
- Eman Elafef Msc, Barcelona Institute for Global Health
- Maha Alomari, Expert by Experience
- Lena van Selm, Barcelona Institute for Global Health
- Isra Al Sharabi MD, City St George’s University of London
- Ornella Punzo MD PhD, Istituto Superiore di Sanità
- Rachel Burns PhD, University College London
- Alena Kamenshchikova PhD, Maastricht University
- Saleh Aljadeeah PhD
- Rosita Chia-Yin Lin, City-St. George’s, University of London
- James Smith, UCL, Lecturer
- Arwa Al-Robeye MBChB, NHS
- Mayssa Rekhis MD PhD
- Stella Evangelidou PhD, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)
- Sali Hafez DrPh cand., Fellow at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Samra Yasin Dr, NHS UK
- Mohammad Al-Kayani
- Derek Summerfield MRCPsych London, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, King’s College, Univ of London
- Mahmoud Hilali PhD, Head of the Department, Epidemiology of Public Health, Blue Nile National Institute for Communicable Diseases, University of Gezira, Sudan
- Mustafa Razzak MPharm, Pharmacist
- Ibrahim Bani MD PhD FFPH, Global Health Expert
- Yazeid Aqqad PhD, University of Hull
- Abi Deivanayagam, MPH, University College London
- Ali Bokhari FRCPCH, Dartford and Graversham NHS Trust
- Marisol Fonseca flores MD, IMSS
- Stefania Vergnano PhD, Bristol Toyal Hospital for Children
- Ashraf Abouelezz MD, Ascension
- Reyhana alborz MD, Child Health Advocates for Palestine (RCPCH members)
- Ms Sian Grbin
- Amy Stevens MBChB, Public Health Consultant
- Tony Waterston MD, FRCPCH, Retired consultant paediatrician, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
- Amine Boughellam MD, Downing Drive Surgery – GP
- Wesam Mansour PhD, Lecturer at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
- Jenny Brooks Msc, UCL
- Hassan Edries Hasaan, PhD student, University of Barcelona
- Christy Braham MPH PhD, WIEGO
- Nashiru Billa Dr, Qatar University, Professor
- Amy Neilson FACRRM FACTM FEWM MBBS MPH&TM
- Hamid Ali MBBS, MRCS, Pg Dip, PhD
- Samer Jaber, UCL
- Jacqueline Brown BAHONS, Early intervention behaviour consultant
- Sonora English MSc, University College London
- Jean Fitzpatrick, Unite the Union
- Simon Hindmarsh PGCE, PalPulse
- Jan Marsden, Retired Mental Health Professional
- Andreas Katsaros
- Paul Conlon, Redbridge Education
- Lori Tuan, Freelance
- Nuria Sanchez Clemente, City, St. George’s University of London
- Eleanor Thorn MA, Tuned In Events Director
- Nada Al ghussein
- Trevor Alfred MD, Medical doctor
- Dee Pearce MD, Brighton
- Diana Neslen MSC, Birkbeck college, Delegate Jewish Voice for Labour council
- David Goldberg MRCP MRCPsych
- Omar Baig Mr
- Garrett Forkin CIPD, HR Professional
- Zeki Ismail Mr, CEO
- Ibticem Boughellam, PhD, Boots UK
- Sajid Shariff FRCS, NHS
- Ashley Dell’Orso, PhD Candidate, Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon
- Maria Morris Ms
- Zoe Vidaly MD, University of NY
- Louise Harrison MA, Ms
- Emma Lundberg Phd, Gothenburg university
- Mohammed Khan Mr, Medical
- Carole Vincent Ms, Birkbeck University Alumni
- Jonathan Coulter Mr, Secretary of CAMPAIN (the Campaign against Misrepresentation in Public Affairs, Information and the News, UK, company limited by guarantee) – www.campain.org
- Andrew Morris PhD, Unison Community
- Roxane Simon Ms CAMPAIN
- Florence Davies, Queen Mary University of London
- Rodney Watts PhD, University of Birmingham, Medical Biochemistry, Senior Research Fellow, Retired.
- Nour Alnasee Msc, Toronto metropolitan university
- Angeline Cruz, MSc ISGlobal, University of Barcelona
- Professor Haim Bresheeth, SOAS
- Phil Crowe
- Ayesha Kadir MD, MPH, Viborg Hospital, Denmark
- Susan Willmott, CAMPAIN
- Fauzia Ahmad PhD, Goldsmiths, University of London
- Abhishek Velmurugan MBBS, MBA, ANIIMS
- Nishat Hussain
- Colin Lomas
- Sarah Sherif CNAA PG Dip
- Abdelaziz Ibn-abdelouahab MD, Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology Department, Clínic Barcelona, University of Barcelona / Resident Physician
- Professor Morten Skovdal, University of Copenhagen
- Abe Hayeem RIBA, Chair, Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine
- Alba Cuxart Graell MSc, Barcelona Institute for Global Health
- Paul Lane
- Cezary Bednarski RIBA
- Chris Kirk, Retired Professor of Biochemistry
- Sylvia Finzi, University College London, alumni
- Ian Trewin CEng MIET, Institution of Engineering and Technology
- Diane Pearson
- Mary O’Sullivan, National Union of Journalists
- morag gillie, Retired. Housing activist.
- Gillian Dalley PhD
- Teresa Adão Fonseca MD Professor. Fbaup
- Nour Aboudihaj, Imperial College London
- Ragnhild Storstein Spilker RN MPhil, Associate professor, Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, Chair professional group on Migrant Health and Transcultural Nursing, Norwegian Nurses Organisation
- Judith Maizels PhD, Wellwise4me, Director
- Iman Bugaighis PhD Egas Moniz School of Health and Science
- Linda Smith, Philips research
- Mona Al Ghussein MA
- Emília Schreck Senhora Professora
- Saskia Hanft-Robert PhD, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf
- Rui Braz Afonso PhD, FAUP, UNIVERSITY OF PORTO
- Dr Yahia Abuowda, Internist in Santarém Hospital. Portugal
- Afnan Mohamed, Coventry University
- Kim Roper DipSw, University North London Alumni
- Geetha Reddy PhD, The open University
- Baba Bardi
- Pete Firmin Mr
- Tania Dræbel Ph.d., Assistant Professor, Copenhagen University
- Patrycja Skala-Williams Phd, Portobello Heritage School of Art and Design
- Dr waleed Milaat PhD, Professor KAU
- Patrícia Pina, Clinical Psychologist ISPA, Lisbon
- Mona Mohamed MD, Arabic association of public health
- Manal Mansour, MD, PhD, Kuwait University
- Fahim Lunat, NHS
- Alexa Virdi Dr, Oxford University
- Maria Ferreira Ms, University
- Hussein Khasawneh
- Rita Issa MD MPHD, UEA
- Tanja Kleibl PhD, THWS
- Dricile Ratib PhD, Muni University
- Rubbia Ali MSc, KCL
- Keli Garrett MFA, UAL
- Penny Woolcock, UAL PhD candidate
- Abdallah Abudayya PhD, VID Specialized University, Norway
- Nooshin Farhid, Lecturer MFA UAL
- Khelifi Abdedayem Dr, International Expert in SRH (Sexual and Reproductive Health), ONFP. Ministry of Health in Tunisia.
- Raquel Nunes ARCH, Architect
- Olivia Oturai PhD fellow, University of Copenhagen
- Mike Odriscoll Mr Pns
- Ainhoa Ruiz Azarola MD, PhD, Professor at EASP. Spain.
- Olga Leralta MD, Public Health researcher at EASP (Spain)
- Maria Alves MD, SNS, Portugal
- Maria Marti Castaner, Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen
- Camila Picchio PhD, ISGlobal
- Varlei Silveira Mr, President of Association Criativar Coordenatoris
- Lorenzo De Min MD, MSc Global Health
- Angela Martin MA, UCU S Yorkshire Retired
- Lisen Dellenborg PhD, Associate Professor, Gothenburg University
- Ruairi Mulhern Mr, Middlesex University
- Jonathan Fluxman Dr,vFamily Physician retired
- GemmavTarpey-Brown MPH, PhD Candidate, University of Melbourne
- Roghieh Dehghan MD; Refugee and trauma researcher – UCL
- Mubashir Cheema Dr, Healthworkers4Palestine
- Amer Hamed, Cardiologist, King’s Mill Hospital, UK.
- Esther Kaner, PhD candidate UCL
- Shubhechya Shrestha Dr, General Practitioner, UK
- Chelsie Hernandez MPH, SDSURF
- Tariq Mahmood Dr, RCGP
- Delia Da Mosto MD, Centre for International and Intercultural Health
- Abe Hayeem, Chair Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine
- Ali Idriss MPH, MOH
- Naheed Sarwar Dr, MRCGP
- Ana Maria Valinho, Registered Nurse, Doctors Without Borders, NOVA University Lisbon
- Mohammad Ali Dr, GMC
- Wejdene Mansour PhD, University of Sousse. Faculty of Medicine. Associate professor
- Yara Dixon MD, PhD candidate at Amsterdam UMC
- Iman Khan PhD, Loughborough University London
- Frode Eick PhD, Lovisenberg Diaconal University College
- Caroline Barker SRN, Retired
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