A nurse who allegedly said she wouldn’t treat Israeli patients is now facing multiple federal charges in Australia.
Sarah Abu Lebdeh, aged 26, was arrested on Tuesday after she made remarks in a video that was uploaded online earlier this month, as per the Associated Press.
Abu Lebdeh and another nurse, Ahmed Rashid Nadir, were suspended from Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital close to Sydney on February 12. In a video the night before, Abu Lebdeh stated that she would not provide treatment to Israeli patients, while Nadir hinted that he had harmed Israelis, according to the AP.
However, the hospital examined patient records and found no evidence that the nurses had harmed patients.
“We praise Australian authorities for pressing charges against Sydney nurse Sarah Abu Lebdeh for her violent, anti-Semitic threats directed at Israeli patients. There is no room for violence or anti-Semitism in any community, especially within the medical sector,” stated the Anti-Defamation League on Wednesday. “Given the rise in assaults against the Australian Jewish population, it is essential that law enforcement authorities keep up their efforts to ensure that those who promote hatred and target the Jewish community are held answerable under the law.”
In the video, a man and woman, who said they were doctors, spoke with another individual via Chatrouletka, a website where strangers are matched internationally to have conversations.
After the Israeli man revealed his nationality, the female worker said “it’s Palestine’s country, not your country you piece of s—,” according to the video.
As the Israeli man asked for peace, the conversation escalated, and the woman said “when the time comes, I want you to remember my face, so you can understand that you will die the most disgusting death.”
The pair went on to say they would not treat the man and would kill him if he came to their hospital.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the comments as “vile” and condemned the healthcare workers’ actions. (Joel Carrett/Pool via Reuters)
The man in scrubs said “you have no idea how many Israelis came to this hospital and…,” while sliding his arm across his neck in a throat-slashing motion.
Fox News’ Alexandra Koch, Beth Bailey and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
