
Two healthcare professionals in New South Wales, Australia, were suspended on Wednesday following the emergence of a distressing video in which they bragged about harming Israeli patients and explicitly refusing to provide them medical care.
The individuals, Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, were filmed by Israeli content creator Max Veifer outside Bankstown Hospital in Sydney. In the footage, when Veifer revealed his Israeli identity, Nadir replied, “You’ll be killed and sent to Jahannam (hell).”
Nadir further expressed his dismay at Veifer being Israeli: “I’m so upset that you’re Israeli. Eventually, you’re going to get killed and go to Jahannam, inshallah (God willing).” Abu Lebdeh added, “This is Palestine’s country, not yours.”
In the video, Nadir alluded to his experiences with Israeli patients, stating, “You have no idea how many Israeli dogs came to this hospital and I send them to Jahannam.” Abu Lebdeh asserted, “I won’t treat them. I’ll kill them,” to which Nadir concurred, gesturing in a threatening manner.
The video quickly went viral on social media, leading New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park to announce their suspension, stating that they “will not ever be working for New South Wales Health again.” Park denounced their antisemitic comments as “vile, shocking, and appalling,” and emphasized that the Jewish community should feel secure in accessing quality healthcare at local hospitals. He went on to declare, “There is no place in our hospital and health system for this sort of view.”
While Park noted that there was no evidence of Jewish or Israeli patients being refused adequate care at Bankstown Hospital, he pledged a thorough investigation. A police task force that is tackling recent antisemitic incidents in Sydney is expected to visit the hospital for further inquiries. “We’re collaborating with law enforcement and will take all necessary steps to uncover the truth,” Park affirmed.
“This isn’t an isolated incident concerning healthcare workers,” they remarked. “We’ve seen anti-Israel sentiments infiltrate hospitals, with some medical professionals allowing their personal beliefs to politicize their work and signing anti-Israel petitions. An inquiry into the views held by healthcare workers needs to be conducted.”
Reports in the Australian media indicated that Nadir is an Afghan refugee who arrived in Australia as a teenager. A clinic in Sydney, where he had also previously worked, described him as having “a background in hospitals and emergency care, assisting doctors in a wide range of procedures.” Following the release of the video, the clinic promptly removed his details from its website.
