A Sydney nurse at the centre of a video chat showing two hospital workers allegedly making anti-Israel threats to an Israeli influencer has had their home raided after being taken to hospital due to “welfare concerns”, police say.
New South Wales police confirmed officers from Strike Force Pearl executed a search warrant at a home on Friday night, as part of an ongoing investigation.
“A number of items were taken for further examination,” police said.
No arrests have been made.
NSW police had previously said emergency services were called to a Bankstown home on Thursday night “following reports of a concern for welfare”.
“A 27-year-old man was taken to hospital for assessment,” a spokesperson said in a statement on Friday. “No further information is available.”
The Israeli influencer, Max Veifer, on Friday released what he said was the “unedited version” of the video involving two Bankstown hospital nurses.
Police said on Thursday they spoke with the Israeli influencer who they said had agreed to provide investigators with an unedited version of the video chat. In a statement on Friday, police said they were aware an extended version had been posted online, “however nothing has been directly provided to NSW police”.
“Discussions between NSW police and the influencer remain open and ongoing.”
The shorter video posted to Instagram by Veifer earlier this week attracted widespread political condemnation, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, condemning the footage as “sickening and shameful”.
Veifer posted a two-minute video on Friday with the caption: “The police are asking me for the unedited version. I have nothing to hide. Here it is and if they tell me where to send it I will send it to them.”
The video begins with the male nurse, Ahmad Rashad Nadir, and Veifer greeting each other.
When Veifer says he is from Israel, Nadir replies: “I’m going to be really honest with you. You’ve actually got really, really beautiful eyes, but I’m so upset that you’re Israeli. Eventually, you’re going to get killed and you’re going to go to Jahannam [hell]”.
Veifer responds: “Why do you think I’m going to get killed? Maybe because I served in the IDF?”
Nadir replies: “That’s definitely the answer, correct.”
Veifer then states, “that’s the reason, I served in the IDF, what is the problem with that?” to which the female nurse, Sarah Abu Lebdeh, speaks offscreen for the first time, stating: “Because you killed innocent people, that’s why.”
“I was protecting my country,” Veifer responds. Abu Lebdeh asks: “So you kill innocent people to protect your country? What kind of soul do you have?”
Later in the video, Veifer asks the nurses what they would do if an Israeli were to come to their hospital. Abu Lebdeh responds: “I won’t treat them, I will kill them.” Nadir says: “You have no idea how many [Israelis] came to this hospital, and I sent them to Jahannam. I literally sent them to Jahannam.”
The NSW health minister, Ryan Park, launched an investigation on Wednesday after the edited video was published. Park identified the pair as nurses from Bankstown hospital.
The federal health minister, Mark Butler, said on Thursday the Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW had suspended both nurses’ registrations.
“Australians have a right to feel safe wherever they go and nowhere should be safer than a hospital,” Butler said. “Their sickening comments – and the hatred that underpins them – have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia.”
Veifer told Sky News on Wednesday night he “created content” using online video chats where he worked to “expose people”.
“I was talking with these two nurses … and as soon as they found out I am from Israel they started cursing me and threatening me – that they are going to kill me and never going to treat Israeli patients at their hospital,” he said of the edited exchange he released online.
“I was shocked. It’s insane that so far away in Australia the hate has gotten so far. I was shocked but I had a mission to accomplish. I had to expose them, so I had to stay calm and get as much info as I can so I can post it and show my people and we can find them.”
The NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, told ABC radio on Thursday that officers had interviewed staff at Bankstown hospital, obtained CCTV footage, and had spoken with the influencer in Israel who agreed to provide the unedited version of the video.
Webb said investigators had also spoken to the solicitors representing the two nurses.
Mohamad Sakr, a solicitor representing Nadir, said on Wednesday his client had sincerely apologised to the individual in question and the broader Jewish community.
“He understands what has happened, he is trying to make amends,” Sakr said.
Rayan Kadadi, a solicitor representing Abu Lebdeh, said in a statement: “As you can all appreciate this is a very emotional and distressing time for my client and her family.”
“Given there is a pending investigation it will be inappropriate to make any further comment,” Kadadi said. Neither nurse has been charged over the video.
