Two Australian health workers caught up in the threat of videomaking on Israeli patients have sparked a fuss in a country where anti-Semitic attacks have been in place in recent weeks.
“I won't treat them,” one of the workers wearing medical scrubs and hijabs can be heard saying in the video. “I'll kill them.”
Discussing an Israeli patient who also came to a nearby hospital in Sydney, a colleague wearing a scrub, can be seen running his fingers around his neck.
The workers appeared to be speaking from within the medical facility. Neither has been publicly identified by officials.
Australian officials quickly condemned comments filmed on the video. This went viral after a pro-Israel content creator posted online.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday called the threat “disgusting and shameful.” He said two workers identified as employees at Bankstown Hospital have been suspended. He also said in a statement that they had been referred to police for a criminal investigation.
The country's prime minister felt the need to comment on the video talks about the high level of concern that has been caused by the recent explosion of anti-Semitic speeches and attacks. Australia has suffered a rash of anti-Semitistic attacks in recent weeks, including an incident in which synagogues were tainted with red sw and daycare facilities were burned.
Although there have been no major victim reports, the violence represents a dramatic escalation of tensions that echoed from the war in Gaza that also fueled an episode of Australia's Islamophobia.
In November, the Australian Jewish Executive Council, an umbrella organisation that has tracked and documented anti-Semitism reports since 1990, has concluded that the Council of Jews in Australia, has concluded that October 2023 to September 2024, from October 2023. It reported an increase in the number of incidents by 316%. Compared to the past 12 months.
Videos of the two hospital workers, viewed by the New York Times, were recorded by Max Vayfer and uploaded to social media accounts. There, other posts consist of videos of people discussing their opinions on Israel.
A video of the two workers was edited and used emojis to sleep the words.
One of the workers appeared on the video, suggesting that they could have hurt the patient, but health officials said testing of hospital records has become suspicious so far.
“We have already taken steps to consider the safety of hospitals related to this issue and have not identified anything that indicates that the hospital is unsafe,” said New South Wales Health Secretary. Susan Pierce of said in her own video.
State Health Minister Ryan Park called the workers' comments “bastard acts” and said “people subject to that investigation will not work again for New South Wales health.” .
Both Park and Pierce offered an apology.
“I want to assure the Jewish community today that they have my greatest sadness,” Park said. They are high quality and safe care every time and whenever they appear. ”
