![Indian doctor in Bahrain fired for anti-Palestinian tweets Indian doctor in Bahrain fired for anti-Palestinian tweets](https://c.ndtvimg.com/2023-10/6phi1fdo_sunil-rao-bahrain-doctor_625x300_20_October_23.jpg)
New Delhi:
Bahrain Royal Hospital has fired an Indian-origin doctor for allegedly posting anti-Palestinian tweets on his social media account. In a series of posts on X, Dr. Sunil Rao expressed support for Israel, whose efforts to crush the Hamas group have caused a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
His posts supporting Israel came at a time when nearly 3,000 people were killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli retaliatory strikes against Hamas attacks.
Bahrain Royal Hospital, which announced the dismissal at X, said, “It has been discovered that Dr. Sunil Rao, who works as an internal medicine specialist, has posted tweets that insult our society. I want to make sure that’s the case.” Ideologies are personal and do not reflect the opinions or values of the hospital. ”
The hospital added: “This is a violation of our hospital’s code of conduct and we have taken the necessary legal action and immediately terminated the service.”
— Royal Bahrain Hospital (@RBHospital) October 19, 2023
Dr. Rao also acknowledged that his comments were insensitive and apologized.
“I would like to apologize for the statement I posted on this platform. It was insensitive in the context of current events. As a physician, all lives matter. I have been here long enough to recognize the people of this country. “I have deep respect for that religion for the past 10 years,” he told X.
I apologize for the statements I posted on this platform.
It was insensitive in the context of current events. As a physician, every life matters. Having lived in this country for the past 10 years, I have a deep respect for its people and religion.
كلماتي و افعالي— Sunil J. Rao (@shilpasunil_rao) October 19, 2023
New concerns that a war between Israel and Hamas could spark a bigger conflict in the energy-producing Middle East come as the US says military bases in Iraq and Syria are increasingly under attack. Concerns are emerging. American destroyers also shot down cruise missiles and drones fired at Israel by Yemen-based Houthi rebels.
The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt remains closed despite calls from the United States and Europe to open it to allow humanitarian aid to the region.