Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, the Rector of the University of Glasgow and a prominent war surgeon, has been cleared of professional misconduct by a UK medical tribunal. The ruling ends a bruising legal battle that pitted freedom of speech against allegations of antisemitism.

The General Medical Council (GMC), acting on complaints from the group "UK Lawyers for Israel," had accused the British-Palestinian doctor of supporting terrorism in a series of tweets and articles. Specifically, they flagged his use of the term "martyrdom" in reference to a Palestinian fighter.

The Verdict

The tribunal ruled that Abu-Sittah’s comments constituted "legitimate political speech" critical of political elites, not hate speech. Tribunal chair Ian Comfort noted that an "ordinary reader" would interpret his posts as solidarity with the Palestinian cause, not an endorsement of violence against civilians.

• "Lawfare" Defeated: Speaking after the hearing, Dr. Abu-Sittah accused his accusers of using regulatory bodies to silence pro-Palestine voices. "They tried to destroy my life because I witnessed their crimes in Gaza," he stated.
• Context Matters: The tribunal accepted that historical references to the 1970s Palestinian resistance were not endorsements of modern-day terrorism. It is a significant precedent for academics and activists facing similar scrutiny.
• Back to Work: The surgeon, who has treated war victims in Yemen, Iraq, and Gaza, says he can now return to his patients without the shadow of being struck off the medical register.