By: Hal C Clarke

Dr. Dana Diab, a New York City emergency room doctor employed at Lenox Hill Hospital and Brookdale University Hospital & Medical Center, has been dismissed from her position due to her controversial online posts that appeared to applaud Hamas’ attack on a music festival in southern Israel, NY Post reported.

Her comments, shared on Instagram Stories, have sparked significant outrage and condemnation.

In the Instagram Stories, Dr. Diab shared a video of the devastating attack that occurred on October 7th, referring to it as “Zionist settlers getting a taste of their own medicine.” These posts, which were publicly revealed and criticized by organizations like Stop Antisemitism, have raised serious concerns about the appropriateness and ethics of a medical professional expressing such views.

Northwell Health, the healthcare system overseeing Lenox Hill Hospital, confirmed on Tuesday that Dr. Dana Diab was no longer associated with their medical facilities. In their statement, Northwell Health expressed deep regret for the hurt and offense caused by Dr. Diab’s comments. They further emphasized that her views were not representative of the values held by Lenox Hill Hospital and Northwell Health, and as a result, her employment was terminated.

The termination of Dr. Diab’s employment has ignited a broader discussion about public support for Hamas following the attack on Israel, which resulted in a substantial number of casualties on both sides. The conflict began on October 7th when Hamas breached Israel’s southern border barrier and launched a surprise attack on military and civilian targets, ultimately escalating into an all-out war. Approximately 1,400 Israelis and over 2,800 Palestinians lost their lives as a result of this conflict.

Moreover, this incident is not isolated, as public expressions of support for Hamas have generated significant controversy in various contexts. For instance, the Wexner Foundation recently severed ties with Harvard University due to the school’s perceived failure to condemn a statement signed by over 30 student groups. This statement held Israel’s settlement policies entirely responsible for Hamas’ attack, which was deemed unacceptable by the foundation. The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territories has deep historical roots, dating back to the UN’s call for the partition of British-controlled Palestine in 1947, resulting in the declaration of Israel’s independence in 1948 and the subsequent Arab-Israeli war.

Some  Palestinians, like Ayman Helo, a resident of Sea Cliff, have emphasized that they do not harbor hatred towards Israelis or Jews. Helo, who was born in the West Bank, has lived in Tel Aviv, speaks Hebrew, and has Israeli friends.

Dr. Dana Diab’s medical background includes obtaining a medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar in 2016, followed by an internship in internal medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland. She completed her emergency medicine residency at Brookdale University Hospital & Medical Center in 2020. However, her professional career has taken a significant turn due to the controversy surrounding her online comments.