Belgian Physician Tells Jewish Patient: Go to Gaza to Get Rid of Pain

A Belgian physician reportedly refused to treat a Jewish woman with a fractured rib, and suggested she visit Gaza to get rid of the pain.

The physician made the comment to patient Bertha Klein on Wednesday while manning a medical hotline in Belgium's Flemish region, according to Joods Actueel, the only Dutch Jewish magazine from Belgium.

Klein's son, who is American, had called the hotline.

"I'm not coming," said the doctor before hanging up on the son, who attempted to call back only to face further verbal abuse. "Send her to Gaza for a few hours, then she'll get rid of the pain."

The family later contacted a friend, Samuel Markowitz, who is an alderman of the Antwerp district council and a volunteer paramedic. Markowitz called up the doctor to confirm the exchange and recorded their conversation, according to Joods Actueel.

Upon confrontation, the doctor confirmed the exchange, saying he had an emotional meltdown.

Klein's grandson, Hershy Taffel, has filed a complaint with police citing discrimination.

"It reminds me of what happened in Europe 70 years ago," Taffel told Joods Actueel. "I never thought those days would once again be repeated."

Michael Freilich, the editor-in-chief of Joods Actueel, says the incident comes amid a series of recent boycotts against the Jews in Belgium since the start of Israel's Gaza offensive.

On 14 July, a 29-year-old Jewish woman was denied the right to shop at Coton, a fashion retail store in Antwerp.

Antwerp is a major centre for Orthodox Jews in Belgium.

"We don't sell to Jews at this moment due to the ongoing situation in Israel," said the female Cashier at the Coton store.

In other news, police removed a sign in Turkish and French at a Belgian café which said that dogs are allowed but Jews not under any circumstances.