Top doctor Nick Coatsworth slams nurses who threatened to kill Jewish patients: 'Can never be near a patient again' READ MORE: Nurse who boasted about killing Jews led a dramatic Islamic 'martyr's prayer' - as details of his 'boat people' journey to Australia as a child are revealed By CAMERON CARPENTER FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 23:27 GMT, 12 February 2025 | Updated: 23:28 GMT, 12 February 2025 One of Australia's top doctors has demanded a permanent ban for the NSW nurses who bragged about killing and refusing to treat Israeli patients. Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, from Bankstown Hospital in Sydney's west, were filmed on a public video chat forum dressed in their NSW Health-branded scrubs hurling insults at Jews in a video shared by Israeli influencer Max Veifer, 'It's Palestine's country, not your country you piece of s***,' Abu Lebdeh said. 'One day, your time will come, and you will die the most horrible death.' 'You have no idea how many (Israelis) came to this hospital and I sent them to Jehannam (hell),' Nadir said, while making a throat-slitting gesture. When asked what she would do if an Israeli patient presented in her ward, Abu Lebdeh responded: 'I won't treat them, I will kill them.' Dr Nick Coatsworth, who is widely regarded as one of Australia's top doctors, condemned the nurses' views as 'catastrophic' for the country. 'To say the actions of two NSW Health workers are disturbing, frightening and lacking in humanity would be an understatement,' Dr Coatsworth said. Dr Nick Coatsworth is one of Australia's leading doctors, widely recognised for being the trusted voice of reason during the Covid-19 pandemic 'In fact, any words are an understatement. 'For any healthcare worker to have so much racist hate in their hearts for another member of a different cultural community as to threaten to kill them if they were patients and claim to already have done so is catastrophic for our nation. 'These individuals can never be near a patient again. The investigation by police must be full and wide-ranging.' Dr Coatsworth said he has worked with both Jewish and Muslim doctors throughout his medical career, including his time with Doctors Without Borders in Sudan, Chad, and the Congo. 'A central tenet of everything I was ever taught and believe in is to treat regardless of race or religion,' he added. 'And I've seen first hand in Sudan what happens when that does not take place. 'Our Jewish community is suffering immeasurably right now. We must do everything to reassure them of their safety under our care.' Solicitor Mohamad Sakr, representing the male nurse, said his client is trying to 'make amends for what has happened'. Footage released by a Jewish influencer from a public video chat forum showed nurses Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh hurling insults at Jews and claiming they wouldn't treat them Nadir, 27, covered his head in shame when he was confronted by Seven News on Wednesday 'My client sends a very sincere apology to not only that individual but to the Jewish community as a whole,' he added. The nurses have been stood down pending a police investigation, with an update on possible criminal charges against the pair expected on Thursday. 'This is a sad day for our country, it is unthinkable that we are confronted with, and forced to, investigate such an appalling incident,' NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said. 'The speed in which this incident was reported by NSW Health significantly assisted detectives in what is a very serious investigation.' An initial examination by NSW Health found no sign any Israeli patients had been affected. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said there would be a 'conversation' with staff at Bankstown Hospital on Wednesday morning, 'making sure they know that this type of behaviour is unacceptable'. 'I can assure the Jewish community and all of the community that they should have trust and confidence to feel safe and get the care they need when they enter any one of our hospitals,' he told Nine's Today show on Thursday. 'The vast majority of the 180,000 who work in our NSW health and hospital system do incredible work delivering the best care they can for their patients every day.' Federal Aged Care Minister Anika Wells agreed, saying Australia's health system was world-class. The Bankstown Hospital nurse has been stood down from his role 'I want people ... to know we do not tolerate this ... and I don't want people to hesitate for a second when thinking about whether or not it is safe to approach our health system,' she told Today. The video was widely condemned by political leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who said the footage was 'sickening' and shameful and Mr Park. Nadir, later identified as an Australian citizen and Afghan refugee with six years of nursing experience, falsely claimed he was a doctor and told the Israeli man he was 'going to go to' hell. He and his mother crossed Asia before risking their lives on a boat bound for Australia. 'After spending four nights and five days, we reached international waters and the Australian Navy rescued us and took us on board,' he said in an interview three years ago. Brother of nurse at the centre of anti-Semitic scandal makes a stunning claim He revealed how his family were taken to Christmas Island and Darwin after being plucked to safety at sea before eventually settling in Sydney. In addition to his role at Bankstown Hospital, Nadir had also worked at Observatory Hill Medical Centre in central Sydney one day per week. Dr Nirmal Singh Grewal, who founded the general practice 25 years ago, told Daily Mail Australia that Nadir was well liked, but had been fired from that job over the incident. Abu Lebdeh's uncle spoke on her behalf outside her house, claiming she was suffering an 'extreme panic attack' after the video went viral. 'I'm trying to calm her down to see what the f*** happened,' he said. 'She's been a nurse for God knows how long. She's never done anything to hurt anyone.' SydneySudan Share or comment on this article: Top doctor Nick Coatsworth slams nurses who threatened to kill Jewish patients: 'Can never be near a patient again' Add comment