Palestinian-American children's doctor at Phoenix Hospital suspended due to exposing Israeli crimes

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, along with several law firms, is representing a doctor after she was fired from Phoenix Children's Hospital following a Facebook post condemning Israel and accusing Zionists of having a "thirst to kill our Palestinian children."

Screenshots circulated online of Dr. Fidaa Wishah's Monday Facebook post in which she said Palestinians would "expose the #massacre and #genocide you #zionists are proud of."

"A state based on atrocity, inhumanity, racism and cannibalism never lasts long," Wishah continued. "Hey #israel ... your end is coming sooner than you think."

At least 230 Palestinians, including 65 children died in Israeli enemy war on Gaza. Estimated 58,000 Palestinians displaced from their homes and untold damage to the territory's infrastructure, which was already dilapidated by a 14-year blockade.

Israeli attacks damaged at least 18 hospitals and clinics and destroyed one health facility, according to the World Health Organization. WHO officials also said the central COVID-19 testing lab in Gaza City was almost totally destroyed, and the violence caused “severe restrictions” on the delivery of medical supplies.

Results of Gallup’s annual World Affairs poll, released in March, shows that Americans favorable views of Palestinians are on the rise.

Azza Abuseif, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Arizona, said in a written statement to The Republic on Thursday that CAIR, along with several private law firms, is representing Wishah in a wrongful termination case against the hospital.

"Her post on her personal Facebook page, while critical of the Israeli government, has intentionally been taken out of context to portray Dr. Wishah as anti-Semitic rather than what she has been known as her entire career, a civil rights advocate," Abuseif said.

Abuseif said Wishah has been a medical doctor since 2010 and has spent the "vast majority" of her career as a pediatric physician.

"Despite caring for thousands of children, many of whom are Jewish, she has never been accused of discriminating against any of her patients or colleagues," Abuseif said.

Abuseif said Wishah was born and raised in Gaza and knows many friends, family and neighbors who have died at the hands of the Israeli military, adding that she "understandably felt compelled to speak out against those same atrocities" amid the recent escalation in violence.

Wishah confirmed the details in the CAIR statement to The Republic but declined to comment further on the matter.

Abuseif called the hospital's decision to fire Wishah "shameful and an attack on freedom of speech for all Americans."

Saltzman said she does not see the matter as a freedom of speech issue, calling it a "different scenario altogether."

"I don't think any minority or human being should have to be attacked in this way," she said. "We're appreciative they took action and investigated."



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