Former NSW Health nurses appear in court after anti-Semitic video

The lawyer of a nurse charged over his involvement in an anti-Semitic video says he will argue for a major concession in court.

A nurse charged with threatening to kill Israeli patients wants a court to throw out a viral video of his comments, because he didn’t know he was being recorded.

Ahmad Rashad Nadir, and fellow nurse Sarah Abu Lebdeh, both aged 27, made international headlines in February after a video of the pair bragging about killing Israeli patients at Bankstown Hospital, in Sydney’s west, went viral.

The pair, who have both been stood down from their jobs by NSW Health, arrived separately on Wednesday morning at the Downing Centre Local Court to a media frenzy.

Ms Abu Lebdeh was surrounded completely by men dressed in black hoodies, who linked their arms to shield her from the crowd.

Mr Nadir walked calmly into the courthouse shortly after, dressed stylishly in a black collared shirt, designer sunglasses and a Louis Vuitton belt.

Sarah Abu Lebdeh (centre) was shielded from the media scrum as she walked into court. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Ms Abu Lebdeh is 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.

Mr Nadir has been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend and possessing a prohibited drug.

Inside, both cases were adjourned until May 13, with the pair to remain on bail.

However, Mr Nadir’s lawyer Zemarai Khatiz told reporters outside court that he would “intend to argue for the video to be excluded from court”.

Mr Khatiz alleges the video was captured “without the consent and knowledge” of his client.

His lawyer said he planned to argue for the viral video to be excluded from court proceedings. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“We will be challenging the admissibility of the video recording because it was a private conversation which was recorded by the person overseas without my client’s consent and without his knowledge,” Mr Khatiz told NewsWire.

“That video recording was made secretly overseas and was unlawfully obtained.”

Mr Khatiz also confirmed his client would be pleading not guilty.

Ms Abu Lebdeh and her co-accused were both stood down by NSW Health as soon as they were identified. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

In the two-and-a-half minute video, recorded by Israeli influencer Max Veifer, the nurses threaten to kill Israelis who came to the hospital.

Mr Veifer often uses Chatruletka and Omegle, online platforms that pair users in random video chats, to expose instances of anti-Semitism and also to learn English.

“Ahh,” Mr Nadir says in the clip. “I’m gonna be really honest with you, you’ve actually got really, really beautiful eyes.

“But I’m so upset that you’re Israeli … eventually you’re gonna get killed and you’re gonna go to Jahannam (hell). But those pretty eyes, they should stay in this world for longer.”

The exchange quickly gets heated as Mr Veifer explains he served in the IDF (Israeli Defence Force).

A woman’s voice can then be heard off camera saying: “you killed innocent people”.

The woman’s voice continues: “So you kill innocent people to protect your country? What kind of soul do you have? You have no soul.”

Mr Veifer then asked the pair: “How are you doctors?”

Abu Lebdeh then allegedly told Mr Veifer she wanted him to “remember my face so you can understand that you will die the most disgusting death”.

Mr Nadir (left) and Ms Abu Lebdeh (right) appeared in court after an anti-Semitic video of the pair went viral. Picture: NewsWire Handout

Israeli influencer Max Veifer.

Mr Veifer then begins to ask “Let’s say an Israeli, God forbid …”

“I won’t treat them, I’ll kill them,” Ms Abu Lebdeh says.

“Not God forbid, I hope to God.”

“You’ll kill them?” Mr Veifer is heard asking.

Mr Nadir then said: “OK you have no idea how many Israeli haram dogs came to this hospital and (makes throat slitting motion) I send them to Jahannam.”

“For real? If just Jewish people comes (sic) there …” Mr Veifer begins before the chat ends.

Following the identification of Mr Nadir in February, Strike Force Pearl raided his home and seized a number of items.

Mr Nadir was taken to hospital a few hours later over mental health concerns.

Originally published as Former NSW Health nurses appear in court after anti-Semitic video