Aussie Nurse Charged After Vowing Not to Treat Israelis—Seriously?

An Australian nurse is facing serious federal charges after allegedly stating she would refuse to treat Israeli patients. Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 26, was taken into custody on Tuesday following the emergence of a video earlier this month where she made the controversial comments, according to the Associated Press.

Abu Lebdeh, along with another nurse, Ahmed Rashid Nadir, were suspended from their positions at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital near Sydney on February 12. The preceding night, Abu Lebdeh reportedly declared in a video that she would not provide care to Israeli patients. Nadir allegedly implied he had killed Israelis, as reported by the AP.

The hospital conducted an internal review of patient records but found no evidence that either nurse had caused harm to patients. Good on them for checking, but the damage to public trust is already done.

The New South Wales Police Force has labeled the video as "antisemitic," noting that it was "filmed at Bankstown Hospital and circulated widely on social media."

Abu Lebdeh is now charged with federal offenses including threatening violence to a group, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, and using a carriage service to menace, harass, and offend, police stated. These charges carry a potential maximum sentence of 22 years in prison.

She has been released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on March 19.

The video shows a man and woman, identifying themselves as doctors, engaging in a conversation via Chatroulette with another individual. When the Israeli man disclosed his nationality, the female worker allegedly responded, "it's Palestine's country, not your country you piece of s---."

As the Israeli man pleaded for peace, the conversation escalated, with the woman allegedly stating, "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 further stated they would not treat the man and would kill him if he were to come to their hospital. The man, wearing scrubs, allegedly said, "you have no idea how many Israelis came to this hospital and…," while making a throat-slashing gesture.