View source for Ghassan Abu-Sittah

{{short description|'''British-Palestinian plastic and reconstructive surgeon; Rector of the University of Glasgow from 2024'''}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Ghassan Abu-Sittah
| image       = Ghassan Abu-Sittah 2023.jpg
| image_size  = 200px
| caption     = Ghassan Abu-Sittah interviewed by Doha News, December 2023
| birth_date  = {{Start date|1969|07}}
| nationality = British
| occupation  = Plastic and reconstructive surgeon
| education   = [[University of Glasgow]] (MB ChB 1993)
| known_for   = Surgery in Gaza hospitals in October–November 2023; Rector of the [[University of Glasgow]] (2024–2027)
| website     = https://drghassanabusittah.com/
}}
'''Ghassan Abu-Sittah''' (born July 1969) is a British-Palestinian plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specialises in craniofacial, cleft and war-injury reconstruction.<ref name="CHPLS">[[Companies House]], [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/_ZH-LdCsr4UaVtJmnn8oqRNqa8A/appointments Ghassan Soleiman ABU-SITTAH: appointments] ''Find and update company information'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref><ref name="Site">Ghassan Abu-Sittah, [https://drghassanabusittah.com/about/ About] ''drghassanabusittah.com'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> He headed plastic and reconstructive surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center from 2012 and returned to the UK in 2020.<ref name="UofGRector">[[University of Glasgow]], [https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/uofgrector/ University of Glasgow Rector] ''MyGlasgow'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> He worked as a surgeon in al-Ahli and al-Shifa hospitals in Gaza for 43 days from 9 October 2023, during the genocide in Gaza, and afterwards gave evidence to the [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan Police]] war crimes team.<ref name="AP">''Associated Press'' via ''Voice of America'', [https://www.voanews.com/a/surgeon-gives-testimony-to-uk-war-crimes-unit-after-gaza-visit-/7391669.html "Surgeon Gives Testimony to UK War Crimes Unit After Gaza Visit"], 10 December 2023.</ref> In March 2024 he was elected Rector of the [[University of Glasgow]] for 2024–2027.<ref name="Elect">[[University of Glasgow]], [https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_1060222_smxx.pdf Rectorial Election Result], 26 March 2024, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

==Career==
Abu-Sittah graduated MB ChB from the [[University of Glasgow]] in 1993.<ref name="MPTS">Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, [https://www.mpts-uk.org/-/media/mpts-rod-files/dr-ghassan-abu-sitta-09-jan-26.pdf Dr Ghassan ABU-SITTA: record of determinations, 6–9 January 2026] ''mpts-uk.org'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> According to the American University of Beirut (AUB), he did his residency and fellowships in paediatric craniofacial surgery, cleft surgery and trauma reconstruction in London. He then worked in the National Health Service, where he helped treat victims of the 2005 London bombings.<ref name="AUBhon">American University of Beirut, [https://www.aub.edu.lb/doctorates/recipients/Pages/Ghassan-Abu-Sittah.aspx Ghassan S. Abu-Sittah] ''Honorary doctorates'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> His own website says his fellowships were at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Royal London Hospital, and that he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Plastic Surgery) in 2010.<ref name="Site" />

He moved to Beirut in 2011 as an associate professor at AUB. The university's biographies say he became head of plastic and reconstructive surgery at its medical centre in 2012, and in 2015 founding director of the Conflict Medicine Program at AUB's Global Health Institute.<ref name="AUBhon" /><ref name="UofGRector" /> He has written on war injuries, including the textbooks ''Reconstructing the War Injured Patient'' and ''Treating the War Injured Child''.<ref name="UofGRector" /> AUB has awarded him an honorary doctorate.<ref name="AUBhon" />

In a 2020 interview with Action on Armed Violence, he said he had worked in Iraq during the first Gulf War, and in Gaza during the first and second intifadas, the 2008, 2012 and 2014 wars and the Great March of Return, as well as in Syria and Mosul.<ref name="AOAV">Action on Armed Violence, [https://aoav.org.uk/2020/aoav-interviews-dr-ghassan-abu-sitta-head-of-plastic-and-reconstructive-surgery-at-the-american-university-of-beirut-medical-centre/ AOAV interviews Dr Ghassan Abu-Sitta, Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre] ''aoav.org.uk'', 6 July 2020, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> The University of Glasgow's rectorial election page says that after returning to the UK in 2020 he practised plastic surgery privately. It also lists him as an honorary senior clinical lecturer at [[Imperial College London]], a visiting senior lecturer at [[King's College London]], and clinical lead for the Operational Trauma Initiative at the World Health Organization's Eastern Mediterranean office.<ref name="UofGRector" />

==Gaza, October–November 2023==
Abu-Sittah crossed from Egypt into Gaza on 9 October 2023 with a Médecins Sans Frontières team. He stayed for 43 days, working mainly in the al-Ahli and al-Shifa hospitals in northern Gaza.<ref name="AP" /> He was at al-Ahli hospital on 17 October 2023 when a blast struck its courtyard, where displaced people were sheltering. He said many of the injuries he saw were more consistent with an Israeli Hellfire missile; Israeli authorities and US and French intelligence agencies said the explosion was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket, and [[Human Rights Watch]] said the fragmentation pattern was not typical of the Hellfire.<ref name="AP" /> He also said he had treated patients with burns consistent with white phosphorus.<ref name="AP" /><ref name="Indy27Nov">''The Independent'', 27 November 2023, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/israel-gaza-met-police-war-crimes-b2454164.html "Met Police investigating reports of war crimes in Gaza"].</ref> In November 2023 ''The Independent'' reported that the [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan Police]] war crimes unit, which gathers evidence for the International Criminal Court, had contacted him. He told the paper that 40 to 45 per cent of the patients he treated were children.<ref name="Indy27Nov" /> In January 2024 AFP reported that he had testified to the Met and was due to meet International Criminal Court investigators in The Hague.<ref name="AFP">''AFP'' via ''France 24'', 8 January 2024, [https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240108-uk-palestinian-surgeon-fights-for-justice-after-gaza-return "UK-Palestinian surgeon fights for 'justice' after Gaza return"].</ref> The University of Glasgow's election page says his evidence contributed to South Africa's submission to the International Court of Justice.<ref name="UofGRector" />

==Rector of the University of Glasgow==
In his rectorial manifesto Abu-Sittah pledged to press the university to "officially and unequivocally condemn Israel's ongoing genocidal campaign", to divest from the arms trade, to build partnerships with Palestinian universities, and to replace the IHRA definition of antisemitism, adopted by the university in 2021, with the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.<ref name="UofGRector" /> During the campaign [[UK Lawyers for Israel]] (UKLFI) wrote to the Principal, [[Anton Muscatelli]], about him. UKLFI published Muscatelli's reply, which said he had asked the Clerk of Senate, the returning officer, to investigate. Abu-Sittah told the ''Jewish Chronicle'': "I do not support terrorism… I trust the University to conduct a fair investigation."<ref name="UKLFI20Mar">[[UK Lawyers for Israel]], [https://www.uklfi.com/glasgow-university-investigating-dr-ghassan-abu-sitta-candidate-for-election-as-rector Glasgow University investigating Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta, candidate for election as Rector] ''uklfi.com'', 20 March 2024, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref><ref name="JC20Mar24">''Jewish Chronicle'', 20 March 2024, "Glasgow University investigating doctor who praised terrorist" [https://www.thejc.com/news/glasgow-university-investigating-doctor-who-praised-terrorist-pbxi49ct].</ref>

He was elected on 26 March 2024 with 4,172 of 5,219 votes. The other three candidates, Paul Sweeney, Susan McCabe and the outgoing Rector, Lady Rae, received 430, 350 and 234; 33 papers were spoilt.<ref name="Elect" /><ref name="UofGRector" /> His term runs from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027,<ref name="UofGRector" /> and he was installed on 11 April 2024.<ref name="SRC">Glasgow University Students' Representative Council, [https://www.glasgowunisrc.org/news/article/gusrc/New-UofG-Rector-Installed/ New UofG Rector Installed] ''glasgowunisrc.org'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> In a letter UKLFI published on 29 March 2024, Muscatelli wrote that "The Rector is a wholly independent role" and that the Rector's views "do not represent those of the University".<ref name="UKLFI29Mar">[[UK Lawyers for Israel]], [https://www.uklfi.com/glasgow-university-distances-itself-from-new-rector-dr-ghassan-abu-sittah Glasgow University distances itself from new rector Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah] ''uklfi.com'', 29 March 2024, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref><ref name="Tab17Apr">''The Tab'', 17 April 2024, [https://thetab.com/2024/04/17/glasgow-university-distances-itself-from-newly-elected-rector-after-controversial-comments "Glasgow University distances itself from newly elected rector after Israel/Gaza comments"].</ref> Under the Court's Standing Orders the Rector is "the ordinary president of the Court".<ref name="SO">[[University of Glasgow]], [https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/courtoffice/standingordersforcourt/ Standing Orders for Court] ''gla.ac.uk'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

On 20 November 2024 the University Court, following the senior management's advice, voted 14–7 not to require its fund managers to divest from defence companies. Abu-Sittah sent apologies for that meeting.<ref name="CourtNov24">[[University of Glasgow]] Court, [https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_1188554_smxx.pdf Court papers], minute of the meeting of 20 November 2024, item CRT/2024/18, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> ''The Herald'' later reported his absence; he said he had been on a humanitarian mission in Lebanon.<ref name="Herald">''The Herald'', 22 March 2025, [https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25027187.glasgow-university-rector-skipped-crunch-talks-divestment/ "Glasgow University Rector skipped crunch talks on divestment"].</ref> He attended the Court meeting of 24 June 2025.<ref name="CourtSep25">[[University of Glasgow]] Court, [https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_1243079_smxx.pdf Court papers, 25 September 2025], including the minute of 24 June 2025, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> Other disputes at the university in this period, over protests, divestment, the ''eSharp'' journal and the Muir Houston case, are set out on the [[Anton Muscatelli]] page.

===The eSharp journal affair===
Before his election, the university had been criticised over its handling of a 2017 article in the postgraduate journal ''eSharp''. The ''Jewish Chronicle'' reported that a May 2021 editorial apologised for the article and said it promoted an "unfounded antisemitic theory".<ref name="JC14Jul21">''Jewish Chronicle'', 14 July 2021, [https://www.thejc.com/news/university-apologises-over-paper-that-promoted-antisemitic-theory-on-israel-id8s3h6h "University apologises over paper that promoted 'antisemitic' theory on Israel"].</ref> The editorial now reads "what some would regard as an unfounded theory regarding the State of Israel".<ref name="eSharp">''eSharp'', [https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_816593_smxx.pdf Editorial, eSharp editorial team May 2021] (amended September 2021), accessed 23 October 2026.</ref><ref name="Guardian10Nov21">''The Guardian'', 10 November 2021, [https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/nov/10/glasgow-university-retreats-over-antisemitic-label-for-journal-article "Glasgow University retreats over 'antisemitic' label for journal article"].</ref> Writing in ''The Electronic Intifada'' in March 2022, [[David Miller (Powerbase)|David Miller]], the author of this page, argued that the university had smeared its own journal as antisemitic. Citing emails released under freedom of information, he reported that the apology followed eleven formal complaints and that five senior managers had approved the wording.<ref name="EIMiller">[[David Miller (Powerbase)|David Miller]], [https://electronicintifada.net/content/how-glasgow-university-smeared-its-own-journal-anti-semitic/35036 How Glasgow University smeared its own journal as anti-Semitic] ''The Electronic Intifada'', March 2022, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> Abu-Sittah's manifesto pledge to replace the IHRA definition said the definition "threatens academic criticism of Israel and Palestinian solidarity events".<ref name="UofGRector" />

==Entry bans in Europe==
On 12 April 2024 Abu-Sittah was refused entry at Berlin airport, where he was due to speak at the Palestine Congress. He said police cited "the safety of the people at the conference and public order".<ref name="APBerlin">''Associated Press'', [https://apnews.com/article/germany-gaza-doctor-conference-entry-refused-e82252cb9bc5e010e8bfd0689f816e53 "Prominent surgeon says he was denied entry to Germany for a pro-Palestinian conference"], 12 April 2024.</ref> On 4 May 2024 he was refused entry to France at Charles de Gaulle airport, where he was due to speak at a French Senate meeting. He was told Germany had imposed a one-year Schengen-wide entry ban, of which he said he had not known.<ref name="Guardian5May24">''The Guardian'', 5 May 2024, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/05/gaza-war-surgeon-ghassan-abu-sitta-feels-criminalised-denied-entry-france "Gaza war surgeon feels 'criminalised' after being denied entry to France"].</ref> On 9 May 2024 the Netherlands also refused him entry, citing the German alert.<ref name="NLTimes">''NL Times'', 9 May 2024, [https://nltimes.nl/2024/05/09/palestinian-british-surgeon-ghassan-abu-sittah-allowed-enter-netherlands "Palestinian-British surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah not allowed to enter the Netherlands"].</ref>

In May 2024 the Potsdam Administrative Court ruled in urgent proceedings that the entry ban was probably unlawful.<ref name="nd">''nd'', 16 May 2024, [https://www.nd-aktuell.de/artikel/1182225.verwaltungsgericht-potsdam-einreiseverweigerung-fuer-ghassan-abu-sittah-war-rechtswidrig.html "Verwaltungsgericht Potsdam – Einreiseverweigerung für Ghassan Abu-Sittah war rechtswidrig"].</ref><ref name="ICJP14May">International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, [https://www.icjpalestine.com/2024/05/14/travel-ban-overturned-major-victory-for-professor-ghassan-abu-sittah-following-successful-icjp-and-elsc-legal-challenge-against-german-authorities/ Travel ban overturned] ''icjpalestine.com'', 14 May 2024, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> A Dutch government document records that Germany withdrew the alert on 15 May 2024.<ref name="NLgov">Government of the Netherlands, [https://open.overheid.nl/documenten/7bae5f03-f31d-4214-84e0-1d5a7442ab29/file briefing on parliamentary questions from Piri and Paternotte on Ghassan Abu Sittah's access to the Schengen area] ''open.overheid.nl'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> In July 2025 the Berlin Administrative Court ruled that a separate ban on his political activity in Germany had been unlawful.<ref name="SLN">''Scottish Legal News'', 18 July 2025, [https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/glasgow-university-rectors-speaking-ban-in-germany-was-unlawful "Glasgow University rector's speaking ban in Germany was unlawful"].</ref> On 6 November 2025 Berlin's Higher Administrative Court refused leave to appeal.<ref name="ICJP10Nov">International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, [https://www.icjpalestine.com/2025/11/10/professor-ghassan-abu-sittah-prevails-in-his-legal-battle-against-german-authorities/ Prof Ghassan Abu Sittah prevails in his legal battle against German authorities] ''icjpalestine.com'', 10 November 2025, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

==General Medical Council case==
The [[General Medical Council]] brought a misconduct case over an article he wrote for ''Al Akhbar'' published on 8 March 2018 and over reposts on X. At a hearing from 6 to 9 January 2026, a Medical Practitioners Tribunal found not proved the allegations that the article and the reposts were supportive of violence or terrorism, or antisemitic.<ref name="MPTS" /><ref name="Guardian9Jan26">''The Guardian'', 9 January 2026, [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/09/university-glasgow-rector-ghassan-abu-sitta-cleared-misconduct-medical-watchdog-alleged-antisemitism "University of Glasgow rector cleared by medical watchdog over alleged antisemitism"].</ref> On 5 February 2026 a GMC panel decided to appeal the tribunal's decision.<ref name="GMC40A">[[General Medical Council]], [https://www.gmc-uk.org/cdn/documents/20260205-abu-sitta-final_pdf-113804342.pdf Meeting of the s.40A Panel to consider the case of Dr Ghassan Abu-Sitta], 5 February 2026, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

==Roles and appointments==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Organisation !! Role !! From !! To !! Source
|-
| [[University of Glasgow]] || Rector || 1 April 2024 || 31 March 2027 (term) || <ref name="UofGRector" />
|-
| Medical Aid for Palestinians (03038352) || Director || 5 December 2019 || 19 October 2023 || <ref name="CHMAP">[[Companies House]], [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/HdaMHkFnbgq-SKqV3H3KdbCCc3A/appointments Ghassan Soleiman ABU SITTAH: appointments] ''Find and update company information'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>
|-
| Palestine Land Society Ltd (04108560) || Director || 15 November 2016 || 26 January 2019 || <ref name="CHPLS1">[[Companies House]], [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/vZRz1rA52JRLtCx-y4pdV1rL220/appointments Ghassan ABU-SITTA: appointments] ''Find and update company information'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>
|-
| Palestine Land Society Ltd (04108560) || Director || 12 November 2020 || 21 January 2026 || <ref name="CHPLS" />
|-
| The International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance Ltd (13830195, dissolved) || Director || 5 January 2022 || || <ref name="CHINARA">[[Companies House]], [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/a2tS7j4DkfOYqdrPIdS2lrdFV-A/appointments Ghassan ABU SITTAH: appointments] ''Find and update company information'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>
|-
| Dima Medical (UK) Ltd (12904134, dissolved) || Director || 25 September 2020 || || <ref name="CHDima">[[Companies House]], [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/fsF4sbALTInOgOoD6rf8LUwdTbo/appointments Ghassan Solieman ABU-SITTAH: appointments] ''Find and update company information'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>
|-
| American University of Beirut Medical Center || Head of plastic and reconstructive surgery || 2012 || 2020 || <ref name="UofGRector" />
|}

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:Palestine|Abu-Sittah, Ghassan]]
[[Category:Health|Abu-Sittah, Ghassan]]
[[Category:Academics|Abu-Sittah, Ghassan]]