Medical professionals from the UK and US report being denied entry to Gaza, following their public accounts of the humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Aid workers and organisations providing medical support have described the refusals as arbitrary and politically motivated, raising fresh concerns over access for humanitarian assistance.
Under international law, Israel is obliged to facilitate the swift and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid. However, medics told the Guardian they were blocked without explanation, often after giving first-hand testimony on conditions in Gaza. Some suggest that their identity, prior experience in Gaza, or public statements may have influenced the denials.
Among those affected is James Smith, a UK-based emergency doctor who has been unable to return to Gaza since June 2024. In 2025, he was refused entry twice, without any reason provided. “I had spoken to media outlets and expressed my views,” said Smith, who travels with the UK charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). “It’s the expression of my politics that must have rattled them.”
Khaled Dawas, a London consultant surgeon, echoed the concerns. Denied entry in August and November 2025, Dawas noted, “I’m no different from colleagues who have entered, except I’ve been outspoken. That seems to be the reason.”
Similarly, Thaer Ahmad, an emergency physician from Chicago and Palestinian-American, has been refused entry four times, citing Israeli authorities’ security concerns. “This weaponisation of access and aid is embedded in the decision-making in Gaza,” he said.
The issue intensified after 37 NGOs, including UK-based MAP, were told in December to cease operations in Gaza. For six months, MAP has been unable to send medical staff or supplies, with no explanation for the blocked entries. Steve Cutt, MAP’s chief executive, described the denials as “deliberate measures” with life-or-death consequences for Palestinians.
Humanitarian organisations submit volunteer medic lists to the World Health Organization (WHO) before travel, yet refusals often come less than 24 hours before entry or days prior to departure.
Israel’s military agency, Cogat, dismissed the claims as “false and unfounded”, citing security and professional criteria designed to maintain the integrity of humanitarian operations.
A UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson urged Israel to lift restrictions and allow essential food, medical supplies, and fuel to reach those in urgent need, in line with international humanitarian law.
Legal action has been filed with the Israeli Supreme Court, highlighting alleged illegal refusals of entry for seven medics, including London-based orthopaedic surgeon Graeme Groom, who has visited Gaza over 40 times. Victoria Rose, a consultant plastic surgeon from London, said the barriers appeared designed to exclude experienced and effective medical professionals rather than target individuals based on their statements alone.
These developments have raised alarm among UK and US medical communities and humanitarian organisations, highlighting ongoing challenges in delivering aid and witnessing conditions on the ground in Gaza.