Two Sydney nurses caught in a shocking video boasting about killing Israeli patients now face serious legal consequences, as Australia grapples with rising antisemitism. One nurse has already been charged with threatening to kill, while her colleague remains under investigation after their disturbing online exchange went viral worldwide.
At a Glance
- Sydney nurse Sarah Abu Lebdeh charged with threatening to kill Israeli patients in viral video
- Charges include threatening violence and using a carriage service to threaten, carrying potential 22-year prison sentence
- Colleague Ahmad Rashad Nadir hospitalized and under investigation but not yet charged
- Both nurses have had their professional registrations suspended nationwide
- The incident occurs amid rising antisemitic attacks across Australia following the Hamas-Israel conflict
Shocking Video Sparks Nationwide Outrage
A disturbing video featuring two Sydney nurses has ignited fury across Australia, leading to criminal charges and professional suspensions. Sarah Abu Lebdeh and Ahmad Rashad Nadir, both employed at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, were recorded making threatening statements about Israeli patients in an online exchange with Israeli influencer Max Veifer that quickly spread across social media platforms.
In the video, Abu Lebdeh can be heard saying she wouldn’t treat Israeli patients and allegedly threatening, “One day, your time will come and you will die the most horrible death.” Meanwhile, Nadir reportedly suggested he had already harmed Israeli patients, though he later claimed his comments were meant as a joke gone wrong, calling the incident a “big mistake.”
ABC torched by Jewish leader for branding NSW nurses' death threats to Israeli patients as 'disparaging comments'
By Laurence Karacsonyhttps://t.co/7OvBUHIsKd
The ABC has been accused of downplaying antisemitism after an online story described the vile threats made by two NSW…
— Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) February 19, 2025
Legal Consequences Mounting
Abu Lebdeh now faces serious criminal charges including threatening violence, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, and using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend. If convicted, she could face up to 22 years in prison, demonstrating Australia’s tough stance on antisemitic threats. She has been granted bail under what NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb described as “very, very strict” conditions.
Abu Lebdeh is prohibited from leaving Australia or using social media and must report regularly to police ahead of her scheduled court appearance on March 19. Her colleague Nadir was hospitalized for a welfare assessment following the incident and has not yet been interviewed or charged by police, though investigations continue.
A note to the Australian Government and those who influence it.@BBC, @SkyNews, @nytimes, @CNN, @abcnews, @SBSNews, the @AlboMP, @JustinTrudeau, @Keir_Starmer, @EmmanuelMacron govts have a direct role in empowering the barbaric evil in the torture of Israel’s Bibas family. You… https://t.co/peNjRXEcWo
— Adam Parker (@AdingtonP) February 20, 2025
Professional Consequences and Public Response
Both nurses have been immediately barred from practicing their profession nationwide, with their registrations suspended. Hospital officials conducted a thorough review of patient records and found no evidence that either nurse had actually harmed patients, though the investigation continues. The incident has been universally condemned by Australian leadership, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“Abu Lebdeh said she wouldn’t treat Israeli patients while Nadir suggested he had killed Israelis,” the official report noted.
The case highlights the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents across Australia since the Hamas-Israel conflict intensified in October 2023. Law enforcement has documented numerous attacks on Jewish communities, including vandalism, arson targeting synagogues, and bomb plots. This disturbing trend has prompted Australian authorities to take a strong stance against antisemitism, with swift action against those making threats against Jewish people.
