Melanie Ward resigns as Medical Aid for Palestinians CEO after UK election win

The CEO of a medical charity that provides assistance to Palestinians has been elected as an MP in the UK.

Melanie Ward, the now former head of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), was elected to represent the Scottish constituency of Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy as an MP for Labour — a party that has been criticised over its handling of Israel's war on Gaza.

"Thank you so much again to the people of Cowdenbeath & Kirkcaldy constituency for putting your trust in me," Ward said on social media platform X.

"I will do my very best for you."

In an earlier post, she said she had resigned from her role as CEO of MAP after being elected but added that the charity "does amazing work" and she "will remain a proud supporter".

"I will continue to work in support of the rights of Palestinians – especially those in Gaza – from the House of Commons," Ward said.

MAP confirmed in a statement that its chief executive had resigned with immediate effect and the NGO would soon start the recruitment process for its next permanent CEO.

"Melanie Ward led MAP's work from January 2023 until her leave of absence in May 2024, during which our dedicated local teams launched the largest humanitarian relief operation in the charity’s 40-year history in Gaza, while also ensuring Palestinians in the West Bank and Lebanon can access the services and quality healthcare that is their right," MAP said.

Ward told The New Arab last month that she was on a leave of absence from the organisation and this was normal practice for most other charity leaders running for parliament in the election.

British-Palestinian doctor Ghassan Abu Sittah, who volunteered in Gaza's hospitals during the current Israeli onslaught, sharply criticised the former MAP chief executive.

"One day you are the CEO of an organisation @MedicalAidPal claiming to support the health rights of Palestinians," he said on X.

"The next morning you are working for a leader who supports their genocidal erasure.

"Humanitarianisation of genocide. Charity not solidarity."

Incoming prime minister and Labour leader Keir Starmer came under fire after appearing to say early in the Gaza war that Israel had the right to withhold power and water from the strip.

Later in October, he claimed he meant Israel had the right to self-defence, not to cut off supplies.

Israel's ongoing war on Gaza has so far killed at least 38,011 people, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry said on Thursday.

In response to a request for comment, Ward said: "My views on the situation in Gaza are clear and are on the public record.

"I am one of the few MPs who has been to Gaza and personally witnessed Israel's horrific war there since it began 9 months ago.

"The situation faced by the Palestinian people is, at its root, a political one and we need more British politicians who really understand it and who want to bring about change.

"I will continue to work in support of the rights of Palestinians in my new role as an MP."

MAP told The New Arab it could not comment on the private political activities of former staff members.

"MAP is committed to standing in solidarity with the Palestinian communities we serve, and speaking out for their rights to health, dignity and justice," the charity said.

"This solidarity is given tangible expression through the tireless work of our teams on the ground in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon to provide healthcare and relief to their communities in the most challenging of conditions."