Second nurse charged over video threatening Israeli patients

A nurse in Sydney has been charged by police for allegedly appearing in a video threatening Israeli patients, making her the second nurse to be charged in connection with the incident. This arrest underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the alleged threats.

In February of this year, 27-year-old Ahmad Rashad Nadir and 26-year-old Sarah Abu-Lebdeh were suspended from their positions after the video in question was posted online. The video was reportedly filmed on an anonymous online platform that randomly pairs users for chats, raising concerns about privacy and security in digital spaces.

Authorities have stated that there is currently "no evidence" to suggest that the two actually harmed any patients. Mr. Nadir was charged on Wednesday with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend, and with possessing prohibited drugs. The term "carriage service" refers to modern communication systems such as telephones and the internet, highlighting the legal implications of online behavior. Ms. Lebdeh was charged last week with three offenses: threatening group violence, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, and using a carriage service to harass or offend.

Neither has entered a plea to the charges, but Mr. Nadir issued an apology through his lawyer last month. In the video, which appeared to have been filmed inside a hospital (and was posted by an Israeli content creator), Ms. Abu-Lebdeh and Mr. Nadir allegedly boasted about refusing to treat Israeli patients, wanting to kill them, and claiming they would go to hell. These alleged statements have sparked widespread condemnation and legal repercussions.

The video went viral, sparking widespread public outrage, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling it "revolting" and "despicable." This comes after Australia passed tougher hate crime laws earlier this month, following a series of unrelated anti-Semitic attacks. In recent months, there has been a string of arson and graffiti attacks on Jewish community homes, cars, and synagogues across Australia, indicating a rise in anti-Semitic incidents. Concurrently, incidents of Islamophobia have also been increasing, demonstrating a broader trend of religious intolerance. A teenager in Western Australia was charged on Wednesday with threatening to launch a Christchurch-inspired attack on a Sydney mosque.