Nurses stood down over kill threats to Israelis


Two nurses have now been charged over an allegedly threatening video. Photo: Supplied
Two nurses will lose their jobs over antisemitic comments in a viral social media video that has sparked outrage and triggered a police investigation.
The two-minute video, posted to TikTok by an Israeli influencer with more than 100,000 followers, shows him talking to a man in a NSW Health uniform via a website that randomly pairs people for video chats.
The man and a woman who then appear alongside him say they would kill rather than treat Israeli people.
“I won’t treat them, I won’t treat them. I’ll kill them,” the woman says at one point.
Jewish groups have condemned the comments and the NSW government has launched an investigation to identify the pair.
The comments have also been reported to NSW Police, who have confirmed Strike Force Pearl – which was set up to investigate antisemitic incidents – was investigating.
Source: AAP
In the video, the man claims he is a doctor at a hospital in Sydney’s south-west and compliments the Israeli before saying he is “so upset” to hear where he is from.
“Eventually you’re going to get killed and you’re going to go to [hell],” the uniformed man says.
“It’s Palestine’s country, not your country,” the woman, who then enters the frame, says.
“One day your time will come … you will die the most disgusting death,” she says.
“How are you doctors?” the Israeli man asks, questioning what would happen if someone from his country went to the hospital.
“I won’t treat them, I’ll kill them,” the woman responds.
“You have no idea how many Israeli … came to this hospital and … I send them to [hell],” the man says.
The Israeli man encourages viewers to share the video, which contains visible edits, saying he has found antisemites in other countries and got them fired.
The video spurred an urgent investigation on Wednesday. The pair were quickly identified after local health district executives were notified.
NSW Premier Chris Minns told Sydney radio 2GB the pair – who were later confirmed to have worked at Bankstown Hospital – have been stood down.
“These people will never work in NSW hospitals again,” NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said, labelling the comments vile, dehumanising and unacceptable.
“There is no place, no place in our hospital and health system for this sort of view to ever, ever take place. There is no place for this sort of perspective in our society,” he said.
Park said the video was “appalling” and left him “sick to my stomach”.
“Not only am I sorry,” he said in an apology to the Jewish community, “but I can assure you this: The care you get in our hospitals will continue to be first class. We will investigate this.”
With her voice shaking, NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce said never in her wildest dreams did she think she’d be talking about her staff saying “such horrendous things about our community”.
Bankstown Hospital will also review the incident.
The investigation comes as flagged legislation in response to antisemitic incidents faces delays.
New offences aimed at halting the incitement of religious hatred won’t be introduced in the NSW parliament’s first sitting week as MPs chart a narrow course through freedom-of-speech protections.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said the video captured deplorable rhetoric.
“That anyone feels comfortable spewing this hatred while wearing NSW branded scrubs is sickening,” he said.
“No healthcare worker who holds these views should be registered in Australia.”
Executive Council of Australian Jewry chief executive Alex Ryvchin also condemned the video.
“The brazen way, the open and competent matter in which these people spoke about killing and torturing and wishing death upon Israelis – and particularly coming from our medical professionals whom we look to for care and support – was a ghastly thing to see and it should never have happened,” he said.
“This is a warning sign once again to all Australians about the evil that exists in our midst.”
-with AAP