Two NSW Health nurses have been stood down after a video surfaced showing them allegedly making disturbing comments about harming and refusing to treat Israeli patients.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the footage “sickening and shameful,” stating, “This antisemitic video is disgusting. The comments are vile.”
The footage, shared online by Israeli content creator Max Veifer, captures a man and a woman—both confirmed to be health workers from Bankstown Hospital in Sydney’s south-west—engaging in antisemitic remarks during a conversation on the video chat app Chatruletka.
When Veifer identified himself as Israeli, the male nurse responded, “Eventually you’re going to get killed and go to Jahannam [hell], inshallah.” The woman then joined in, saying, “It’s Palestine’s country, not your country, you piece of shit,” before stating she would neither treat nor help Israeli patients.
“You have no idea how many Israeli dogs came to this hospital, and I sent them to Jahannam,” the male nurse claimed while making a threatening gesture.
NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed the two individuals had been identified and immediately stood down.
“We need to send a clear and unambiguous message that if you go to an emergency department, if you’re on a ward anywhere in NSW, you will be treated by people who are highly trained and highly skilled, and who care about you,” Minns told 2GB.
An investigation is now underway, with NSW Police’s Strike Force Pearl assessing potential criminal implications.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park called the footage “one of the most vile, shocking, and appalling videos I have ever seen.”
“These two individuals will not ever be working for NSW Health again,” Park said at a press conference, adding that authorities would also review Bankstown Hospital for any previous incidents of antisemitism.
Bankstown MP Tony Burke and Federal Health Minister Mark Butler also condemned the remarks, saying,
“These sorts of comments—and the hatred that underpins them—have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia.”
Jewish community leader Alex Ryvchin described the video as “utterly sickening” and a “warning sign” about extremism infiltrating Australian institutions.
Meanwhile, NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Kathryn Austin reiterated that such conduct is completely unacceptable in the medical profession.
“This behaviour will not be tolerated. Our hospitals must remain safe havens for all patients.”
Additionally Australian Nursing Midwifery Federation released a statement condemning the act:
“We are appalled by the video showing two NSW Health workers making antisemitic comments. That type of hate is simply unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.”
Albanese confirmed the Australian Federal Police had been briefed on the matter and offered assistance if required.
“It is very clear to me that these people have committed what are crimes, and they should face the full force of the law.”
Support Our Journalism
The global Indian Diaspora and Australia’s multicultural communities need fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today—with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors—is doing just that. Sustaining this requires support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon
