Australian Nurse Charged for Threatening Israeli Patients
A 26-year-old Australian nurse, identified as Sarah Abu Lebdeh, has been formally charged after a video surfaced in which she expressed intentions to harm Israeli patients. The footage, shared by Israeli influencer Max Veifer, captures a conversation where Abu Lebdeh, alongside a male colleague, made alarming statements regarding their treatment of Israeli individuals at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in Sydney.
During the exchange, when questioned about her approach to Israeli patients, Abu Lebdeh explicitly stated, “I won’t treat them, I will kill them.” Such declarations have ignited widespread outrage and prompted swift action from both law enforcement and health authorities.
The New South Wales Police have charged Abu Lebdeh with multiple offenses, including threatening violence towards a group and utilizing a communication service to convey threats of death and harassment. She is scheduled to appear in a Sydney court on March 19. Police Commissioner Karen Webb emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that authorities acted “swiftly under enormous pressure and public expectation.”
In response to the incident, both Abu Lebdeh and her male colleague have been suspended from their positions. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW has also deregistered them, effectively prohibiting them from practicing nursing across Australia. Health Minister Mark Butler underscored the severity of the matter, stating that such “sickening comments” and the underlying hatred “have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia.”
This event has intensified discussions about the rise of antisemitism in Australia, especially within professional sectors entrusted with public care. Community leaders and officials have expressed deep concern over the incident, viewing it as a manifestation of a broader, troubling trend.
The Australian Jewish community, in particular, has voiced alarm. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, described the video as “utterly sickening to watch.” He highlighted that this incident is “merely the tip of the iceberg,” referencing ongoing reports from medical practitioners about extremist content posted by other healthcare professionals online.
In solidarity, the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association organized a demonstration outside the NSW Parliament. Approximately 100 nurses and midwives gathered, holding signs with messages such as “no hate in health care” and “care without bias.” The association’s assistant general secretary, Michael Whaites, conveyed the collective dismay of the profession, stating, “We find the comments to be abhorrent, and I want to reassure the people of Australia, of NSW, of our Jewish communities, our Israeli communities, that they do not speak for nurses and midwives.”