Midwife ‘warned about NSW nurses’ a year before Antisemitic rant went viral

A Sydney midwife has claimed she nearly lost her job after raising concerns about antisemitism among nurses in New South Wales over a year before two were caught making hateful comments on a viral video.

Sharon Stoliar said that she warned hospital bosses about medical staff making inappropriate and racist remarks following the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Stoliar apparently filed formal complaints about colleagues' behaviour, particularly in the wake of widespread protests held by health workers across Australia calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

During these protests nurses, midwives, and health workers were heard chanting the controversial phrase “From the river to the sea,” which many Jewish groups have labelled genocidal.

Stoliar, who is married to an Israeli Jew, said she was horrified by what she witnessed, especially as colleagues were wearing NSW Health uniforms while chanting the phrase.

Sharon Stoliar made official complaints about medical staff making threats to Jews in 2023 (Image: Instagram)[Missing Credit]

“I raised the alarm not long after October 7 happened, when nurses and midwives were chanting ‘From the river to the sea’ while wearing NSW Health uniforms,” Stoliar claimed in a video posted to Instagram.

“I wrote an open letter to nurses and midwives, explaining that this chant is a call for the annihilation of Jews, and that they should not be shouting this genocidal chant, let alone while wearing NSW Health uniforms. I also had meetings with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) to push for action.”

But instead of receiving support, Stoliar alleged that she became the target of retaliation, including having vexacious complaints lodged against her.

She was left shocked when eight grievances were filed with the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), calling for her to lose her medical license.

“While initially the complaints were dismissed, two of the complainants pushed for a review, prompting the HCCC to investigate further,” Stoliar recalled.

“They placed formal comments on my registration without my knowledge, and without allowing me the opportunity to respond. This went on without me being informed of my legal rights.”

The situation became more dire for Stoliar when she claimed she received an official letter threatening her with a custodial sentence in relation to the complaints.

She was eventually able to prove her innocence with the help of her legal team, clearing her name and retaining her medical registration.

“Do you see the double standard?” Stoliar asked. “I asked for an end to a genocidal chant by NSW Health staff while they wore their uniforms. Yet, instead of addressing that, I faced formal corrective comments and the threat of jail time.”

Stoliar’s case occurred 15 months before the latest Australian antisemitism controversy erupted this week when two nurses, Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, were filmed in NSW Health scrubs, making violent antisemitic threats The video, shared on social media by Israeli influencer Max Veifer, shows the pair boasting about sending Israeli patients to “Jehannam” (the arabic word for hell).

NSW Health nurses Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh were filmed making violent threats against Jews (Image: X)[Missing Credit]

In the clip, Lebdeh taunted: "It's Palestine’s country, not your country you piece of s***."

Nadir, meanwhile, made a throat-slitting gesture, saying: "You have no idea how many (Israelis) came to this hospital and I sent them to Jehannam."

Following the release of the video, NSW Health suspended the two nurses, and police are now investigating the matter, with CCTV footage from Bankstown Hospital being seized as part of the inquiry.

The JC has contacted NSW Health for comment, but the situation has drawn criticism from various groups who argue that more must be done to ensure the safety and well-being of Jewish staff and patients within the healthcare system.

An AHPRA spokesperson said: "We manage complaints and concerns raised about the health, performance and behaviour of individual health practitioners, except in New South Wales and Queensland.