“Vile, dehumanising and unacceptable”: NSW Health employees investigated for antisemitic video
Two Sydney nurses have been stood down after disturbing footage emerged of the pair saying they would “kill” and refuse to treat Israeli patients.
It is understood that the clip, which showed two employees of Bankstown Hospital wearing NSW Health uniforms, was filmed during a livestream on Tuesday night.
The video shows a male and female pair speaking to a popular Jewish influencer in Israel, and making disturbing and violent threats against his life.
The male employee claims that he has “literally sent” Israeli patients “to Jahannam.”
Jahannam is the Arabic word for “hell”.
NSW police confirmed they are investigating the video, announcing that Strike Force Pearl, which investigates antisemitic attacks, has taken carriage of the investigation.
“NSW Health, believe they have identified the individuals involved and are currently assisting detectives with their investigation,” a NSW police spokesperson said in a statement.
“A thorough investigation is underway.”
No charges have as yet been laid.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park condemned the “appalling” video.
“The comments are vile, dehumanising and unacceptable,” he said.
“They made me sick to my stomach.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday morning, Mr Park said the employees, subject to an investigation, will “not ever be working for NSW Health ever again”.
“There is no place for this sort of perspective in our society.”
Mr Park apologised to the Jewish community, going on to say that the comments made during the video are not a reflection of NSW Health values.
“I can assure you this, the care that you get in our hospitals will continue to be first-class. We will investigate this up hill and down dale. We will not [just] be looking at this incident per say but we will also be … going through previous cases to make sure that hospital has been working in a way that reflects those values around safety and care,” he said.
“We cannot afford to have people like that in a health system. Everyone is entitled to access NSW health and hospital services without fearing for their life and without having that sort of hate-filled attitude come through some of our health care workers,” he added during an interview on 2GB.
PM responds
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the footage “sickening and shameful”.
“The antisemitic video circulating today is disgusting. The comments are vile,” he said in a statement on X.
“These antisemitic comments, driven by hate, have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia.
“These individuals have been stood down by NSW authorities. They have rightly been referred to the NSW Police for criminal investigation.”
Mr Albanese concluded by stating those who have committed criminal antisemitic acts will “face the full force of our laws”.
In a joint statement, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler and Federal Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke said the government “utterly condemns the appalling video”.
“This video is as chilling as it is vile. The comments made in this video are sickening and totally unacceptable,” they said.
Mr Butler and Mr Burke said they welcomed the news the individuals involved have been stood down.
“Health workers have a solemn duty to treat and heal everyone who comes before them needing help. The vast majority hold to that oath,” they said.
“The idea that you would single out a particular group in our community and indicate you wouldn’t care for them runs against every single principle in our healthcare system.”
‘Tip of the iceberg’
Co-chief of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin said the video was “utterly sickening to watch”.
“Their unrepentant, gleeful hatred is the precursor to the violence we are experiencing in our country and it must be stamped out,” he said on X.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Ryvchin warned the incident was just “the tip of the iceberg”.
“This is a warning sign once again to all Australians about the evil that exists in our midst, the need to understand this ideology and to confront it, and the harm that it does to all Australians,” he said.
Mr Ryvchin said for months he’s heard from medical practitioners who have been warning about extreme content posted by other nurses and doctors online.
“This is clearly the first time it has gone to such a public, brazen level. But I think we’d be kidding ourselves if we thought they were isolated individuals. I think that this is merely the tip of the iceberg.”
Medical community reacts
Dr Michael Krasovitsky, who is Jewish and works as a medical oncologist at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney said it was “terrifying” to hear the comments made by fellow healthcare workers.
“I love my job, and I feel very connected to working within NSW Health. To hear that two hopefully rogue colleagues of mine so deeply hate Israeli and Jewish people is simply terrifying,” Dr Krasovitsky said.
“No matter our ethnicity, political beliefs, sexuality, gender or other defining characteristics, we all deserve respect, and all deserve compassionate and best-practice health care.
“I will hold my head up high when I next provide the best care I can to someone whose beliefs don’t align with my own”.
The Australian Medical Association (NSW) and New South Wale Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) have both released statements condemning the actions of the two nurses involved.
“On behalf of NSW doctors, we want to make it very clear that doctors, nurses and other health practitioners are committed to providing the best possible care to every patient in NSW,” AMA NSW president Dr Kathryn Austin said.
“The Declaration of Geneva states doctors will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between their duty and their patient.
“There is no place for hatred or division in the health system and this behaviour will not be tolerated. Our hospitals must remain safe havens for all patients.”
NSWNMA acting general secretary Michael Whaites said the union stands for peace and defends the global human right to healthcare.
“Our membership embraces many cultures and we are all shocked by today’s events. Members of trade unions stand together, united in opposing racism, bigotry and hatred,” he said.
“We will continue to call for unity across all communities, oppose racism, and promote cultural harmony and tolerance.”
▷ For more information and support please visit the Australian Human Rights Commission website: Racism. It Stops With Me.
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