CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses anti-semitism.
Two nurses from Bankstown Hospital in Sydney have been stood down after a video surfaced showing them making disturbing comments about Israeli patients. The incident has sparked outrage and prompted swift action from health officials and politicians.
The video, posted on social media by Israeli personality Max Veifer, shows him speaking with two individuals wearing NSW Health uniforms. When asked about treating Israeli patients, one of the nurses responded, “I won’t treat them, I will kill them.”
The nurses have been identified as Ahmad ‘Rashad’ Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh by Daily Telegraph.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park condemned the footage, stating, “The comments are vile, dehumanising and unacceptable.” He added that the video made him feel “sick to my stomach”.
The NSW Health Department has launched an urgent investigation and called in police to examine the matter. Premier Chris Minns confirmed that the pair were identified on Wednesday morning and immediately suspended pending a full investigation.
Minister Park emphasised the severity of the situation, saying, “Those people subject to that investigation will not ever be working for NSW Health again.
“There is no place, no place in our hospital and health system for this sort of view to ever, ever take place.”
In the video, the male nurse, who its alleged falsely claimed to be a doctor, per Sydney Morning Herald said, “You have no idea how many [Israelis] came to this hospital, and I sent them to Jehannam.” This is referring to the Islamic concept of hell.
One of the nurses in the video has spoken up about the matter insisting the whole thing was “a joke and misunderstanding”.
“It was a joke, a misunderstanding… I will use social media, anything, to apologise but I need to go and see the detectives first,” Nadir told Daily Telegraph.
“I didn’t mean to offend.”
Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said: “There needs to be an investigation immediately into these two Australian medical professionals who are saying they will kill Israeli patients – and suggesting that they already have.
“They are expressing criminal intent towards Jewish people – this must be stopped.”
NSW Police’s Strike Force Pearl, which investigates acts of antisemitism in Sydney, has taken over the investigation.
A statement from NSW Police read, “NSW Health believe they have identified the individuals involved and are currently assisting detectives. A thorough investigation is under way.”
The Australian Medical Association NSW and the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association have both condemned the actions of the nurses, emphasising that healthcare professionals must treat all patients equally, regardless of their background.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also slammed the video calling the comments “disgusting” and “vile”.
“The footage is sickening and shameful,” he said in a statement posted to X.
“These antisemitic comments, driven by hate, have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia.”
This incident comes after the Albanese government recently strengthened hate speech laws in the country, alongside existing legislation which criminalised the public display of Nazi and terrorist organisation symbols, and the Nazi salute.
NSW has also introduced legislation that make it a criminal offense to intentionally incite racial hatred, including anti-semitism, with punishment of up to two years in jail. No charges have been laid over the video in question.
Lead image: Nine
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