Nurses Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh decline to be interviewed by police

The two nurses at the centre of the hate speech video filmed inside Bankstown Hospital have refused to be voluntarily interviewed by police.

Two nurses at the centre of the hate speech video filmed inside Bankstown Hospital have refused to be voluntarily interviewed by police.

Amid nationwide disgust over the video, paediatric nurses Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh remained holed up inside their homes in Bankstown and Greenacre on Thursday, a day after they boasted about killing Israeli patients to a social media influencer in a video that went viral.

In the sickening rant to Israeli influencer Max Veifer on Chatruletka, a website that connects people around the world, Nadir said he had already sent Israeli patients to “hell”, while Abu Lebdeh said she would refuse to treat them, saying: “I won’t treat them, I will kill them.”

Detectives from NSW Police Strike Force Shelter, which investigates anti-Semitic crimes, spent the day reviewing the full and unedited version of the talk the two nurses had with Mr Veifer after the influencer agreed to a request to hand it over.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the unedited version of the video was a critical piece of evidence and police needed to thoroughly review it, along with CCTV and records seized from the hospital, before they could progress the investigation.

Nurses Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh during their vile video in which they talked about killing Israeli patients.

Mr Veifer has also agreed to give police a full statement about what took place on Tuesday night when he was trawling the live video chat platform and connected with the two nurses, who were on duty and wearing NSW Health uniforms.

The Daily Telegraph has been told the pair had their chat with Mr Veifer from the paediatric section of the hospital’s emergency department.

Nurses rally outside of Parliament House in Sydney on Thursday. Picture: Nikki Short

The nurses were protesting against hate speech in NSW hospitals. Picture: Nikki Short

Nadir and Abu Lebdeh were immediately stood down by NSW Health when the shocking video surfaced on Wednesday morning and their conduct was referred to the police.

Health Minister Ryan Park said the nurses had been suspended — but not yet sacked — as police and NSW Health continue to investigate.

Asked why more than 24 hours had passed with the pair still technically on the books, Mr Park said authorities had to ensure the investigation was carried out correctly to prevent any chance of the nurses being re-employed or launching an appeal.

“I don’t want there to be a sliver of light for these two individuals to think there is any way or pathway forward for them to appeal and get their way back into a NSW Health or (private) hospital facility,” he said.

An Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency spokeswoman also confirmed both nurses’ registration had been suspended “under the immediate action powers of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW”.

Ahmad Rashad Nadir, who came to Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan at the age of 12. He became an Australian citizen in 2020. Picture: Facebook

In the vile footage, which has been viewed more than one million times, Nadir tells Mr Veifer: “You have no idea how many Israelis came to this hospital and I sent them to Jahannam”. Jahannam is the Arabic word for hell.

Lawyer Mohamad Sakr, who is representing Nadir, said his client was sorry and “very emotional”.

“He understands what has happened and is trying to make amends,” Mr Sakr said.

It is understood Nadir and Abu Lebdeh have both decided against voluntarily attending a police station to be formally interviewed.

Abu Lebdeh’s brother, Mohammad, claimed his sister had received death threats.

“Enough of this, we want it to go away … my sister ... she’s stressed sick, enough,” he said.

It comes as the nursing union was criticised for a tone-deaf statement issued in response to the viral video, condemning not only the vile anti-Semitic comments but also including “Islamophobia’’.

Health Minister Ryan Park (far right) and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies President David Ossip visit Bankstown Hospital in the wake of the video. Picture: Supplied.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation issued a media release on Thursday, saying it “condemns all forms of racism, bigotry and hatred, including acts of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia”.

The Australian Jewish Association said the mention of Islamophobia diluted the issue of anti-Semitism, labelling the union a “shameful disgrace”.

Similar criticism was aimed at NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association president O’Bray Smith, after she said Bankstown Hospital workers had “mixed emotions” about the hate-filled rant.

“Our members out at Bankstown are absolutely devastated by the events. They’ve got a lot of mixed emotions.”

Ms Smith later said the “mixed emotions” comment was a reference to the anger and sadness staff were feeling when she visited the hospital within hours of the video going viral.

“Our members at Bankstown Hospital are hurting,” Ms Smith said.

“I’ve spoken with some of them, and they are understandably upset and angry about what allegedly occurred.”

Nurses on Thursday rallied outside state parliament to protest against hate speech, describing the video as “abhorrent” and holding signs that read “no place for hate in health”.

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