Leaflets promoting clinics in illegal Israeli settlements handed out at London medical recruitment event

Sky News has obtained copies of leaflets promoting medical clinics in illegal Israeli settlements by a company seeking to recruit British Jewish doctors at an event in London

Campaigners consider this a violation of the spirit of new sanctions announced in September by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, which are yet to be implemented.

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The government has committed to take action against "those who support, facilitate or profit from illegal settlement activity" although the extent of exactly what this will mean in practice has not yet been detailed.

They are also planning to ban the "advertising or promotion in the UK of land and property in illegal settlements". The measures are not expected to come into force until at least the spring.

The MedEx event was held in Camden on Sunday 25 October, primarily organised by Israeli government ministries.

It advertised itself as a "can’t miss event for doctors and medical students from across the United Kingdom who are considering Aliyah". Aliyah is the traditional term for members of the Jewish community emigrating to Israel.

The event offered the opportunity to network with health recruiters and begin the Israeli Ministry of Health's licensing process.

The leaflet was handed out by an Israeli healthcare provider called Terem, which runs a network of urgent care centres all over the country.

Under the title "Open Positions" and a list of vacancies for specialists including paediatricians, general physicians and orthopaedic surgeons, the flyer shows a map of the company's 25 clinics, including those within the West Bank settlements of Ma'ale Adumim, Beitar Illit, and Modiin Illit, and Katzrin in Syria's Golan Heights.

These settlements are illegal under international law, which Israel disputes.

Andy McDonald MP, Labour co-chair of the Britain-Palestine APPG, said: "UK sanctions are currently making their way through parliament. When concluded, they will be capable of immediately closing down such events with full legal consequences for the organisers."

Labour MP Debbie Abrahams described the reports as "deeply unsettling" if true.

She added: "Only months after properties in illegal settlements were advertised at the 'Great Israeli Real Estate Event' in London, a repeat of this would be a direct insult, not only to Palestinians and Syrians living under occupation, but also to the British government that has taken a clear position that the occupation is unlawful.

"Illegal settlements are inextricably linked to the dispossession of Palestinian and Syrian communities, including the demolition of homes and the appropriation of land. This country must not allow their promotion within our borders in any way, shape or form.

"The government needs to enact the remainder of the full package of measures announced on 8 September at the earliest opportunity."

Jane - not her real name - is a British medical student who is a member of Jewish Anti-Zionist Action, a UK protest group of pro-Palestinian Jews, who attended the event and obtained the leaflets.

"It was a packed tent - I'd estimate there were around 150 people inside at any one time," she said. "There were lots of tables where you could sit down with senior representatives of different health organisations, hospitals, clinics, the IDF, and see what they had to offer.

"I spoke to Terem and I got the impression they were recruiting heavily. It's a very big organisation."

Jane said she was shocked to find illegal settlements in promotional material despite the impending sanctions.

"It made me feel angry, the banality of it. They had talks about tax benefits for doctors moving to Israel, for example.

"It's advertised with no hint of what’s going on, it's really disconcerting. I was shocked at how easily they just handed out the leaflets with no hint of any crackdown or repercussions."

Darío Pomar Azar, an organiser with the Palestinian Youth Movement, said: "Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband promised change on Palestine, and we want it delivered. They must immediately implement sanctions so events like these can never take place again."

In response, the Foreign Office highlighted the foreign secretary's speech announcing the planned sanctions, including the pledge that "settlements are illegal. They should not be promoted in our country. We must, and we will, ensure this never happens again".

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Sky News understands that while the UK continues to promote collaboration with Israeli businesses, cultural organisations and academic institutions, including in the medical field, the government believes its guidance is clear in strongly advising against conducting economic and financial activities in illegal Israeli settlements.

Sources say the sanctions are not yet in force because of the need to get the details right and ensure all measures are targeted, effective, and avoid unintended consequences.

Terem and MedEx have both been contacted for comment.

Israel has condemned the UK sanctions as a "series of anti-Israel decisions by the Labour government" and announced countermeasures against the UK, including the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem.

(c) Sky News 2026: Leaflets promoting clinics in illegal Israeli settlements handed out at London medica