Australian Health Workers Under Scrutiny for Antisemitic Remarks

Two Australian medical professionals face suspension and police investigation after making violent threats against Israeli patients in a viral video.

In a troubling incident that has taken Australia by storm, two health workers from Bankstown Hospital have been suspended and referred to police following their alarming remarks against Israeli patients. Caught on a video that rapidly circulated after being shared by a pro-Israel content creator, one of the workers, donned in medical scrubs and hijab, was overheard saying, “I won’t treat them. I’ll kill them,” in reference to Israeli patients at their facility near Sydney.

The unsettling footage displays a co-worker mimicking a throat-slicing gesture while discussing the same patients. Both employees remain unnamed as authorities assess the situation. The Australian health community is now grappling with heightened sensitivities amid rising antisemitic incidents in recent weeks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the comments as “sickening and shameful,” underscoring the gravity of the situation. He confirmed that both health professionals faced immediate suspension pending further investigation. Albanese stressed the government’s commitment to combating antisemitism and fostering a safe healthcare environment for all individuals, regardless of background.

The incident has reignited discussions around workplace conduct and the responsibilities of health professionals in a diverse society, as more voices call for accountability. The situation remains fluid as further details unfold in the investigation, and Australia braces for its implications on community relations.