Sydney, Australia – A second former nurse from Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital has been charged in connection with an alleged anti-Semitic video that surfaced online, prompting outrage and legal action.
The suspect, 27-year-old Ahmad "Rashad" Nadir, was arrested and charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend, as well as drug possession. He is scheduled to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on March 19.
This arrest follows the earlier charge of 26-year-old Sarah Abu Lebdeh, who also appeared in the controversial video. She has been charged with threatening violence to a group, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, and using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend. Abu Lebdeh was granted conditional bail and will also face court on the same date.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, allegedly shows Nadir and Abu Lebdeh making anti-Semitic remarks about Israeli patients during an online chat with Israeli influencer Max Veifer. Reports indicate that Nadir made disturbing comments suggesting harm to Israeli patients, prompting strong reactions from the public and authorities.
Following the video's release, both individuals were deregistered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW, effectively barring them from working in the healthcare sector.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park strongly condemned the incident, stating that such behavior has no place in healthcare and confirming that neither individual would be employed by NSW Health in the future.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb highlighted the complexity of the case, revealing that authorities worked closely with international counterparts and translated key statements from Hebrew to English. She praised the efforts of Strike Force Pearl detectives, who have made 14 arrests and laid 76 charges related to the investigation.
Both Nadir and Abu Lebdeh are set to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on March 19 to face the charges.
The case has sparked widespread discussion about racism, professional ethics, and security measures in the healthcare system, with community leaders calling for stricter policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
