NHS doctor appears in court over alleged Hamas social media support

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By Rosie Shead and Calum Skuodas, PA Media

An NHS doctor charged with posting on social media in support of Hamas has been released on bail.

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday where she indicated not guilty pleas to four counts of inviting support for the proscribed group.

The court heard the charges date from 23 July to 31 December last year, and relate to comments or material posted online.

The 31-year-old also indicated not guilty pleas for stirring up racial hatred using words or behaviour at a speech she allegedly made at a protest on 21 July and stirring up racial hatred through the publishing and distributing of written material on 19 November.

Prosecutor Carl Kelvin told the court the doctor that the doctor was accused of posting several inflammatory statements, including a post on 23 July that said “I don’t condemn Hamas. I don’t condemn October 7”. A post on the second anniversary of the 7 October attack included an image of a bulldozer along with text reading “Glory to the Palestinian resistance”.