Antisemitism Surge: Why Ireland and Italy Target Israel’s Lifesaving Drugs
Irish pediatric consultants called for a boycott of Teva Pharmaceuticals’ drugs over Israel’s actions in Gaza, while Italian medical staff faced backlash for discarding Teva products in a protest video, both incidents fueling accusations of antisemitism.
Over 50 pediatric consultants from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) urged Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) to boycott medicines from Israel’s Teva Pharmaceuticals, a major global supplier of generic drugs, citing Israel’s alleged “genocide” in Gaza. The call, part of a broader wave of anti-Israel sentiment, ignores the lack of viable Palestinian alternatives and the critical role Teva plays, supplying one in eight medicine packs in Ireland, including Sudocrem. Florida Representative Randy Fine responded sharply, saying, “If Ireland wants to start treating their people with Palestinian medicines, that’s their right. Oh, wait…” The boycott push, seen by critics as performative, aligns with a surge in antisemitism, with Ireland’s Jewish community reporting a 70% rise in hate incidents since October 2023, per local advocacy groups.
In a parallel incident in Italy on August 21, a doctor and nurse at a public hospital in Pratovecchio Stia, Tuscany, filmed themselves discarding Teva products in a symbolic protest against Israel, amplifying Hamas narratives on social media. The video drew fierce backlash, with one Italian user calling it “a national disgrace,” stating, “This is not free expression, it’s fanaticism. Anyone who throws away life-saving drugs should not wear a medical uniform.” Another commented, “I hope you never need one of Israel’s life-saving medical inventions,” while a third noted, “We pay taxes for these drugs, and they treat them like garbage for social media likes.”
The Southeast Tuscany Health Authority launched an inquiry, condemning the unauthorized filming and reserving the right to take action to protect its reputation. The medics later apologized, clarifying they discarded free samples like wipes and supplements, not medications, and retrieved them immediately, saying, “It was a symbolic gesture for peace. We never intended to hurt anyone or involve our employer. We are truly sorry.” These incidents, critics argue, reflect a troubling trend of exploiting the Palestinian cause to vilify Israel, ignoring Hamas’s role in Gaza’s suffering and the October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,195 Israelis.