Australian news and politics recap: Chinese jet targets RAAF plane, NSW anti-Semitic video, Ukraine peace hope

Jewish people are moving elective surgeries to “safer” hospitals and devastated health workers have been abused amid the fallout from two nurses’ video threats towards Israeli patients.

The pair of Bankstown Hospital nurses have brought worldwide condemnation after footage of them making threats against Jewish patients emerged on Wednesday.

Health Minister Ryan Park and Jewish leaders visited the hospital in Sydney’s southwest on Thursday morning as leaders tried to reassure the community the hospital remains safe for all.

But those assurances have not assuaged fears among some Jewish people, Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said.

Some were transferring elective surgeries to hospitals they think “might be safer”, he said.

​Read the full story here.​

The recorded video chat between Jewish influencer Max Veifer and two NSW nurses not only went viral but has made global headlines in the past 24 hours.

Sydney nurses Ahmad ‘Rashad’ Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh’s claims that they refuse to treat Israeli patients at Bankstown Hospital and would instead “kill them” had sparked outrage and condemnation around the world.

Media outlets including Reuters, Washington Post, The Independent (UK), BBC, Times of India, Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, Barron’s, The Times (UK), The Telegraph (UK), Stuff.co.uk, The Sun (UK), Ynet (Israel), Daily Mail (UK), the New York Post and GB News (UK) have all reported on the shocking video and aftermath of its release.

A newspaper in Israel published a story about the nurses’ comments under a headline about the nurses that said: ‘sorry, not sorry?’

On X, Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sharren Haskel thanked NSW Premier Chris Minns “for your swift and decisive action against the racist nurses who threatened to kill Jews”.

“Your dedication and efforts in combating antisemitism over the past month are commendable, and we deeply appreciate your commitment to protecting the Jewish community of New South Wales.”

The Opposition leader has called for a public debate on Australia’s migration and citizenship processes in the wake of two NSW Health nurses being caught on camera making sickening anti-Semitic threats.

He said there needs to be a “proper process … to understand how this individual became an Australian citizen”.

The comment alludes to Bankstown Hospital nurse Ahmad ‘Rashad’ Nadir who fled from Afghanistan to Australia with his family when he was 12.

In the video, Nadir said: “You have no idea how many (Israeli people) come to this hospital . . . I send to Jahannam (hell)”, he said before making a throat-slitting gesture.

Mr Dutton told 2GB: “It’s an outrage and we’ve got big problems in this country when somebody like that can become an Australian citizen.”

“So, there needs to be a proper process in place to understand how this individual became an Australian citizen and where the failing in the system originated and how we can make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

He said there constitutional constraints to deporting people or revoking citizenship unless they made a false declaration or committed a terrorist act.

Police are invetigating after a picture was circulated on social media allegedly showing a group of soccer fans performing a nazi salute, 7NEWS reports.

Eleven men posed for the photo wearing all black and with their faces concealed and performing the salute prior to a soccer game in Geelong at the weekend.

The caption on the photo alleges the men pictured were North Geelong Warriors fans.

The North Geelong Warriors Football Club condemned the group’s actions calling it “offensive” and “antagonistic”.

“The club has no direct affiliation with individuals or groups who engage in such conduct, and we do not support any narratives that promote behaviour contrary to our values,” it said.

Fresh from his calls with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump has talked up ending the Ukraine war.

But first, Trump’s administration has flagged Ukraine may have to cede land seized by Russia and give up hope of joining NATO.

Mr Trump also was less than forthright when asked if Ukraine would be an equal member of the peace process.

“Um, that’s an interesting question,” he said.

“I think they have to make peace. Their people are being killed, and I think they have to make peace. I said that was not a good war to go into. And I think they have to make peace. That’s what I think,” Trump said.

The two NSW nurses who made shocking claims about killing Israeli patients at Bankstown Hospital during a recorded video call have both engaged lawyers.

Director and principal solicitor at Truth lawyers, Mohamad Sakr has reportedly said his client — Ahmad ‘Rashad’ Nadir — was sincerely sorry for his vile comments.

Mr Sakr said that his client had sent a “very sincere apology to not only that individual, but to the Jewish community as a whole”.

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

“He has never appeared before the court in relation to any criminal matters. He is a person of prior good character. It is unfortunate to find himself in a situation like this.”

Mr Sakr told the Nightly on Thursday police have not yet requested his client attend the police station but that the matter is under investigation.

The Nightly has reached out to nurse Sarah Abu Lebdeh’s lawyer Rayan Kadadi but has not recieved a response.

The potential end of this sitting of Parliament has proven to be almost as tense as the end of last year.

Ellen Ransely and Katina Curtis report that the passing of the electoral donation reforms late last night have left many independents and minor parties angered.

We’ve already seen one press conference be interrupted in a heated exchange - there’s a good chance we’ll see more throughout the day.

Full report here.

Alexander Ryvchin, the Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the nurses’ anti-Semitic rant was shocking but also “highly predictable”.

“We don’t know what’s next,” he told Mark Levy on 2GB.

“We wake up every morning to be surprised by the latest outrage that’s occurred.

“Now to see healthcare professionals talking about killing people, dehumanising Jewish Israelis in such a way, it’s a real blow.

“At the same time, as shocking as things are, as unpredictable as things are, they’re also highly predictable.”

The two nurses who bragged about killing Israeli patients at a western Sydney Hospital are reportedly negotiating with police about attending a police station to provide formal statements.

Bankstown Hospital nurses Sarah Abu Lebdeh and Ahmad “Rashad” Nadir are understood to have engaged lawyers but are yet to speak to Strike Force Pearl detectives who are investigating their shocking claims.

On Wednesday, Mr Nadir told News Corp that he planned to publicly apologise to the “Jewish community and anyone I’ve offended” but he first needed to speak to police.

He apologised to media through a mesh gate at his Bankstown home and then separately through his lawyer, according to The Australian.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has announced that Israeli social media influencer Max Veifer will produce full video from the sickening conversation he had with two NSW Health workers from Bankstown Hospital.

Commissioner Webb told Mark Levy on 2GB that Mr Veifer had agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation and that his evidence is “critical to charges” being laid.

“We are happy to announce that the influencer has agreed to provide the full video,’ Commissioner Webb said.

NSW’s top cop went on to say that she was in shock when she saw the video.

“I was in shock. I questioned the team in my office and said was this in Australia.”