More than a hundred people have signed a letter sparked by concerns the chair of a medical defence organisation was forced to step down because of views he publicly expressed on the Gaza war.

Last week, former AMA vice-president Dr Stephen Parnis wrote to members of the Medical Insurance Group Australia (MIGA) stating he had expressed his opinion on subjects that “may cause division” and considered it “prudent” to resign as chair.

Without mentioning the Israeli–Palestinian conflict by name, he added: “I have exercised my right as an individual to comment on matters in the public domain based on my own views and conscience.

“At no time have I purported to represent these interests on behalf of MIGA and its members; however, I consider it prudent to step down from my role as chair of the board.”