The Australian nurses who joked about killing Israeli patients in a “sickening” video last month have both been charged, police have confirmed.
Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh were filmed by Israeli influencer Max Veifer laughing as they said they would send sick Israelis “to Jahannam” (the Arabic word for hell).
After discovering that Veifer was Israeli, Nadir said: “I’m so upset you’re Israeli. Eventually you’re going to get killed and go to Jahannam.”
Veifer then asked both Nadir and Lebdeh how they would treat an Israeli patient. Lebdeh responded “I won’t treat them, I will kill them,” while Nadir boasted “I sent them to Jahannam. I literally sent them to Jahannam.”
"It's Palestine's country, not your country," Lebdeh added. "One day your time will come ... you will die the most disgusting death."
The comments sparked outrage across the world, with Jewish groups calling the clip “sickening” and “disturbing”.
But a coalition of prominent Muslim groups in Australia struck a more defensive tone, claiming that the reaction was an example of "selective outrage” and condemning what they called the “active diplomatic and journalistic cover for ongoing crimes by the Zionists” in Israel.
New South Wales Police has now confirmed that Nadir was arrested yesterday and charged with using a communication system to threaten, menace or harass, and with possessing a prohibited drug.
It is not clear whether the latter charge is related to reports that a colleague found a vial of morphine in Nadir’s locker when he asked them to clear it out following the emergence of the video.
Abu Lebdeh was also arrested last week and charged with threatening violence to a group, the force confirmed.
The news comes amid a surge in antisemitic violence in Australia, particularly around Melbourne and Sydney – which together house the majority of the country’s Jewish population.
Recent weeks have seen a firebomb attack at a synagogue, several cases of hateful graffiti on Jewish schools and businesses and the discovery of a caravan in Sydney packed with explosives and a list of Jewish-connected addresses.
According to AFP, police are investigating the possibility that the incidents are are the result of a concerted campaign orchestrated by a foreign actor – allegedly Iran – employing local criminals to carry out the attacks (though there is no suggestion this was the case in relation to Nadir and Abu Lebdeh).
