Two Nurses Dismissed from Australian Hospital on Charges of Antisemitism

Two nurses in Australia were dismissed on charges of antisemitism and threatening Israeli patients.

A video circulating on social media shows threats against Israeli patients by two nurses in Australia, in which they threatened Israeli patients and refused to treat them. Following the release of this video, they were fired from the hospital and permanently suspended from work.

The male and female nurses, identified as “Ahmad Rashad Nader,” an Afghan refugee, and “Sarah Abulbaidah,” were investigated by New South Wales Police on charges of threatening Jewish patients and antisemitic behavior. Ahmad Rashad fled Afghanistan to Australia with his family at age 12 and continued his education there.

The video, which provides conversations with different people through the Chatroulette application and connects people online and randomly for video chat, connects “Max Wiefer” to an individual who is in a hospital setting. The man claims to be a doctor and tells Wiefer: “You have beautiful eyes, but I’m sorry you’re Israeli.”

The man then continues that he is sending Israelis to hell. Later in this video chat, his female colleague also enters the conversation and tells Wiefer: “Your turn will come one day and you will experience the most terrible death. When the moment of your death comes, I want you to remember my face so you understand how you will die in the most horrific way.”

Wiefer asks them in the video: “What would you do if an Israeli citizen came to the hospital for treatment?” Sarah Abulbaidah responds: “I will not treat them; I will kill them.” Ahmad Rashad Nader also makes a throat-slitting gesture with his hand and says: “You don’t know how many Israeli dogs have come to this hospital and I sent them to hell.”

Max Wiefer, a content creator and Israeli national, posted the video on TikTok and “Anthony Albanese,” the Prime Minister of Australia, described it as shameful and abhorrent. Albanese responded to the video by posting on his X social media account, writing: “These antisemitic statements, which stem from hatred, have no place in our healthcare system and no place anywhere in Australia.”

Australia’s medical and nursing regulatory authority also announced in a statement regarding this abhorrent video: “We confirm that the nursing licenses of Ahmad Rashad Nader and Sarah Abulbaidah have been suspended under the immediate authorities of the New South Wales Nursing and Midwifery Council.”

“Mark Butler,” Australia’s Federal Health Minister, also said in this regard: “The suspension of these two nurses means they can no longer practice nursing anywhere in Australia and under no circumstances.”

Ryan Park, Health Minister of New South Wales, while apologizing to the Jewish community of Australia, stressed that they can still expect medical services in the New South Wales healthcare system. He added that hospital staff in the “Bankstown” area feel ashamed due to this incident.

Ryan Park also confirmed that a comprehensive investigation will be conducted to ensure this incident has not negatively affected patients.