The recent incident involving two Australian nurses has left people around the world shocked and disgusted. In a TikTok video that has since gone viral, the nurses, identified as Ahmed Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Leb, were caught making horrifying anti-Semitic comments. Both work at Bankstown Hospital in Southwest Sydney, and in the video, they bragged about refusing to treat Israeli patients and even talked about killing them. The male nurse, Nadir, complimented an Israeli man’s “pretty eyes” but then chillingly said, “You’re going to get killed and sent to Janam,” which means hell. The female nurse, Abu Leb, added, “It’s Palestine’s country, not your country.” When asked if they would treat an Israeli patient, Nadir coldly replied, “I’ll kill them.”
The video has sparked outrage and condemnation from all corners. The Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, confirmed that the two nurses have been stood down from their jobs while an investigation takes place. Health Minister Ryan Park didn’t hold back in his criticism, calling them “vile, disgusting, and deranged individuals.” He made it clear that they would never work in the state’s health system again, saying, “I don’t want to leave a slither of light to allow any of them to think they will ever work for New South Wales Health again.”
The families of the nurses have also reacted, but not in a way that has reassured the public. When journalists approached Abu Leb’s family for answers, they became aggressive and defensive. Her uncle claimed she was “sorry” and “not a threat,” but many people are skeptical. There are now serious concerns about whether any patients at Bankstown Hospital have been neglected or harmed because of the nurses’ hateful beliefs. An investigation is underway to find out if any wrongdoing occurred.
This disturbing incident is part of a larger trend of rising anti-Semitism around the world, especially after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the war in Gaza that followed. In many Western countries, including the UK and Australia, Jewish communities have reported an increase in hostility, vandalism, and threats. Pro-Palestine demonstrations, while often peaceful, have sometimes included anti-Semitic chants and slogans, leaving Jewish people feeling unsafe and betrayed.
The situation has been made worse by scandals within political parties. In the UK, a Labour MP named Oliver Ryan was recently suspended after anti-Semitic WhatsApp messages were leaked. In the messages, he wished death on pensioners who didn’t vote Labour. This has raised serious questions about whether Labour leader Keir Starmer is doing enough to root out anti-Semitism within his party. Starmer had promised to tackle the issue when he took over from Jeremy Corbyn, but incidents like this suggest there’s still a long way to go.
Commentators like Jake Wallace Simons have accused the West of failing Jewish people by not standing up to anti-Semitism. Simons argues that the West has lost confidence in its own values and history, which has allowed hatred to flourish. He says that Jewish communities are being betrayed because not enough people are willing to stand up and say, “If you attack the Jews, you’re attacking me too.” This lack of action, he believes, is not just a betrayal of Jewish people but also a betrayal of the West’s own identity as a tolerant and democratic society.
The incident with the Australian nurses is a stark reminder of how dangerous unchecked hatred can be. It’s also a wake-up call for institutions and governments to take stronger action to protect Jewish communities and ensure that such hateful behavior is never tolerated. As the investigation continues, many are left wondering how these nurses were allowed to work in a position of trust and care in the first place, and what steps can be taken to prevent something like this from happening again.
What do you think? Is the West doing enough to stand up for Jewish communities, and what more can be done to combat anti-Semitism? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
