Two nurses at a Sydney hospital have been stood down after being filmed making antisemitic threats, including saying they would kill Jewish patients.
Sarah Abu Lebdeh and Rashad Nadir from Bankstown Hospital were captured on video by a Jewish influencer making threatening remarks about Israeli and Jewish people.
The footage, which went viral on social media, prompted an immediate investigation by NSW Health and was referred to police.
Both healthcare workers were suspended from their duties on Wednesday following the incident, which has drawn widespread condemnation from Australian officials.
In the video, Abu Lebdeh was recorded saying, "it's Palestine's country, not your country you piece of s**t" and threatening that Jewish people would "die the most horrible death".
She also declared she "won't treat" Israeli people, adding: "I'll kill them".
Nadir was filmed saying: "You have no idea how many Israeli dogs came into this hospital and I send them to [hell]". He accompanied this statement with a throat-slicing gesture.
Abu Lebdeh further told the Jewish influencer "one day your time will come and you will die the most horrible death".
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Following the incident, Nadir, 27, broke his silence and insisted the comments were "a joke and a 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," he told the Daily Telegraph.
Abu Lebdeh reportedly suffered "an extreme panic attack" after the video went viral, according to her uncle.
He told The Australian his niece was "sorry" for her anti-Semitic rant and was so distressed "we might be calling an ambulance for her".
"She's been a nurse for God knows how long. She's never done anything to hurt anyone," he added.
Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed both nurses had been stood down while NSW Health investigates the incident.
He said: "This act of bastardry, this vile disgusting behaviour from two individuals will in no way diminish the value the secretary, myself as the minister, but more importantly our state has in the work that [NSW Health staff] do each and every day."
He described the video as "shocking" and "appalling", saying the comments made him "sick to my stomach".
Park labelled the pair "disgusting and deranged individuals" whose views were not representative of NSW Health or the community.
He added: "That view is not welcome and will not be welcome ever again in New South Wales Health as an employee."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the behaviour as "sickening" and "shameful".
"The comments are vile... driven by hate, have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia," he said.
Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel called for an immediate investigation into the two medical professionals.
"They are expressing criminal intent towards Jewish people, this must be stopped," Haskel wrote on X.
Haskel, who previously lived in Australia for six years, said the "disease" of antisemitism was "spreading in Australia".
She added that the nurses had "broken the Hippocratic Oath" and should "at the very least, be fired".
Nadir, who was born in Afghanistan, fled to Australia as a child after his father was killed.
Along with his mother Sami, he travelled through Iran, Malaysia and Indonesia before making a perilous boat journey to Australia, where he was rescued by the Navy.
In addition to his role at Bankstown Hospital, Nadir worked part-time at Observatory Hill Medical Centre in central Sydney, where he has now been dismissed.
Dr Nirmal Singh Grewal, founder of the practice, told the Daily Mail that Nadir was well-liked before the incident.
Nadir had previously participated in the Chester Hill Helmsman Project, which helps disadvantaged youth develop life skills.
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Sarah Abu Lebdeh and Rashad Nadir from Bankstown Hospital were captured on video by a Jewish influencer making threatening remarks about Israeli and Jewish people.
The footage, which went viral on social media, prompted an immediate investigation by NSW Health and was referred to police.
Both healthcare workers were suspended from their duties on Wednesday following the incident, which has drawn widespread condemnation from Australian officials.
In the video, Abu Lebdeh was recorded saying, "it's Palestine's country, not your country you piece of s**t" and threatening that Jewish people would "die the most horrible death".
She also declared she "won't treat" Israeli people, adding: "I'll kill them".
Nadir was filmed saying: "You have no idea how many Israeli dogs came into this hospital and I send them to [hell]". He accompanied this statement with a throat-slicing gesture.
Abu Lebdeh further told the Jewish influencer "one day your time will come and you will die the most horrible death".
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Following the incident, Nadir, 27, broke his silence and insisted the comments were "a joke and a 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," he told the Daily Telegraph.
Abu Lebdeh reportedly suffered "an extreme panic attack" after the video went viral, according to her uncle.
He told The Australian his niece was "sorry" for her anti-Semitic rant and was so distressed "we might be calling an ambulance for her".
"She's been a nurse for God knows how long. She's never done anything to hurt anyone," he added.
Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed both nurses had been stood down while NSW Health investigates the incident.
He said: "This act of bastardry, this vile disgusting behaviour from two individuals will in no way diminish the value the secretary, myself as the minister, but more importantly our state has in the work that [NSW Health staff] do each and every day."
He described the video as "shocking" and "appalling", saying the comments made him "sick to my stomach".
Park labelled the pair "disgusting and deranged individuals" whose views were not representative of NSW Health or the community.
He added: "That view is not welcome and will not be welcome ever again in New South Wales Health as an employee."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the behaviour as "sickening" and "shameful".
"The comments are vile... driven by hate, have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia," he said.
Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel called for an immediate investigation into the two medical professionals.
"They are expressing criminal intent towards Jewish people, this must be stopped," Haskel wrote on X.
Haskel, who previously lived in Australia for six years, said the "disease" of antisemitism was "spreading in Australia".
She added that the nurses had "broken the Hippocratic Oath" and should "at the very least, be fired".
Nadir, who was born in Afghanistan, fled to Australia as a child after his father was killed.
Along with his mother Sami, he travelled through Iran, Malaysia and Indonesia before making a perilous boat journey to Australia, where he was rescued by the Navy.
In addition to his role at Bankstown Hospital, Nadir worked part-time at Observatory Hill Medical Centre in central Sydney, where he has now been dismissed.
Dr Nirmal Singh Grewal, founder of the practice, told the Daily Mail that Nadir was well-liked before the incident.
Nadir had previously participated in the Chester Hill Helmsman Project, which helps disadvantaged youth develop life skills.
Find Out More...