TRANSCRIPT
When Israeli influencer Max Veifer uploaded a video purporting to show two nurses - one who claimed to be a doctor - bragging to him about killing Jewish people, it took just hours for it to go viral.
"I have a question. Let's say an Israeli -"
"I won't treat them, I won't treat them I will kill them."
"So if an Israeli is in Australia and God forbid something happens to him, and he comes to your hospital..."
"God forbid? I hope to God."
That was part of an exchange via remote online video, between Israeli influencer Mr Veifer and two medical workers in uniform at Bankstown Hospital on Tuesday night.
Police are now combing CCTV footage, interviewing staff and identifying the site in which the incident was filmed.
They are attempting to piece together the circumstances behind an incident described by Australia's Prime Minister as sickening.
Detectives have confirmed the video had been edited and Mr Veifer has agreed to provide the full footage.
"You have no idea how many Israeli ... dogs come to this hospital and (whistles "
The Israeli content creator spoke to Sky News about the video, saying he was trawling online chat rooms, when he found the nurses.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has suggested the nurses could soon face potential criminal charges.
"There is every indication that it would be captured under existing laws. However, given the rolling nature of antisemitic hate crimes in Sydney over the last 3 to 4 months, even beyond that, but particularly a hot period during the summer period, we can not send anything other than an unambiguous message against hate crimes and antisemitism or racism in general."
The two healthcare practitioners - a male and female - have been stood down from their roles, pending investigation.
The police investigation is led by Strike Force Pearl, a unit recently set up amid a string of antisemitic attacks across Sydney.
New South Wales Health has so far found no indication to support claims that Israeli patients have been denied treatment or killed.
But the scene has caused alarm among health authorities, politicians and community leaders, including Alex Ryvchin from the Council for Australian Jewry.
Mr Ryvchin describing the incident as a warning about the reach of antisemitism.
"This is a warning sign once again to all Australians, about the evil that exists in our midst. About the need to understand this ideology and confront it and the harm that it does to all Australians."
The state's health minister, Ryan Park, is also promising an inquiry into this and other, potentially related, issues at the same facility.
He says he'll meet staff at Bankstown Hospital today.
"We will not just be looking at this incident per se. But we will also be obviously going through previous cases to make sure that that hospital has been working in a way that reflects those values around safety and care."
Meanwhile, health authorities are trying to reassure the Jewish community that health practitioners are committed to providing the best possible care to every patient.
Representatives of New South Wales Nursing and Midwives Association paused a Sydney strike for pay and work conditions on Thursday, to address the incident.
The union's Acting General Secretary Michael Waits shared a message for the public:
"We want to assure people of the Israeli and Jewish communities that you are safe when you come to New South Wales Health for health care. The vast majority of our members stand against racism and bigotry."
While nurse Aubrey Smith said the incident was not a reflection on the sentiments - or work- of colleagues at Bankstown Hospital.
"And I say to you as nurses and midwives across New South Wales. Stay strong. The moments you have shared with your patients, your community is what will stand. That is what speaks for us as professionals."
The male nurse has been identified as an Afghan refugee who has previously publicly shared his ambition to become a doctor in Australia.
At his home, Channel 7's Sunrise program spoke to an unnamed family member, who said she was sorry about what he said
"I feel so bad and I am really shaking, I am really frustrated. I do apologise about his comment."
Family members of the female nurse have told media the woman is having panic attacks and may need medical treatment.
They also claim she was 'set up' in the video.
The case has made global headlines including in major Jewish newspapers.
