Australian Nurse Claims to Have Killed Israelis, Hospital Checks Patient Records
A second Australian nurse, 27-year-old Ahmad Rashad Nadir, has been charged after claiming in a viral video to have killed Israeli patients, the New South Wales Police Force said on March 5, 2025. This came just a week after the first nurse in the video, 26-year-old Sarah Abu Lebdeh, was also charged. Officials said on Feb. 12, 2025, they found no evidence suggesting harm was actually caused to any patients.
The Charges
Nadir, a former nurse at Bankstown Hospital, was charged with using a phone or online service to threaten someone after a video chat recording showed him telling Israeli influencer Max Viefer, "You have no idea how many Israeli [expletive] dogs came to this hospital, and I sent them to hell," as reported by The Jerusalem Post. The other nurse, 26-year-old Sarah Abu Lebdeh, was charged on Feb. 25, 2025, with making threats of violence to a group, using a phone or online service to threaten to kill, and using a phone or online service to cause fear.
Jewish People Targeted
These reports are part of a larger wave of antisemitic attacks and comments in Australia, which have led to vandalism of homes, offices, and businesses. In the past year, a school and two synagogues have been set on fire, with crimes specifically targeting Jewish people. Since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023, a special police team in Sydney has been investigating these antisemitic crimes. They are looking into whether the nurses' online claims violated hate speech laws. Additionally, officials in Sydney and Melbourne are investigating the discovery of explosives, a list of potential Jewish targets, and arson attacks on two synagogues.
'Vile, Disgusting and Deranged'
The two nurses, who joined an online discussion with Israeli influencer Max Veifer, during their night shift at Sydney's Bankstown Hospital on Feb. 11, 2025, were suspended the next day. New South Wales state Health Minister Ryan Park announced the nurses will never be allowed to work for the state health department again.
"They are vile, disgusting and deranged individuals," Park told reporters, according to the Associated Press.
Alex Ryvchin, a Jewish leader and co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said there has been growing extremism among Australia's medical professionals towards Sydney's Jewish community.
"For months, I've been hearing from medical practitioners in the community who have been warning about extreme content posted by other doctors and nurses online," Ryvchin told Network 10 television, as reported by the Associated Press. He also said "was not the work of isolated individuals."
"This is merely the tip of the iceberg," Ryvchin added, according to the Associated Press.
Revealing Video
Authorities acted quickly after the video of the two nurses was posted online. They tried to contact the nurses directly, but were unsuccessful, and Veifer didn't reply to an email asking for a comment. Veifer is a right-wing activist from Israel who makes videos of conversations with random people from around the world to promote his English language courses. He has had some viral videos in which he tries to catch people making anti-Israel comments. In a January 2025 interview with Israel's right-wing Channel 14, Veifer said he makes these videos "in order to reveal antisemitism and anti-Israeli sentiment in the world," as reported by the Associated Press.
In the video, the two nurses pretended to be doctors, according to department secretary Susan Pearce. Lebdeh said she wouldn't treat an Israeli patient, but would kill them, while Nadir used profanity and made a throat-slitting gesture.
There was no immediate comment from their supervisors.
Patients Apparently Unharmed
Park said an investigation into Bankstown Hospital found no proof that Jewish patients were harmed.
"To the Jewish community today, I say not only am I sorry, but I can assure you this: the care that you get in our hospitals will continue to be first class," Park said, according to the Associated Press. He also added that the hospital's past record would be reviewed.
Nadir was also charged with possession of a banned drug. He was given conditional bail and is scheduled to appear in court on March 19, 2025. Lebdeh's online comments have led to investigations and disciplinary actions, including her suspension from the hospital.
This incident highlights the importance of treating all people with respect and the need to address harmful and hateful speech, especially in professional settings like healthcare.
References: Australian Hospital Examines Patient Records After Nurse Claims to Have Killed Israelis | Sydney Nurse Charged With Making Threats After Saying She Wouldn't Treat Israelis | Second Sydney Nurse Charged After Claiming to Kill Israeli Patients
