Sydney nurses plead ‘not guilty’ for viral video threatening to kill Israeli patients

Zev Stub is the Times of Israel's Diaspora Affairs correspondent.

Screen capture from an undated video of Israeli influencer Max Veifer during a conversation with two nurses from a hospital in Sydney, Australia. (X: Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
Screen capture from an undated video of Israeli influencer Max Veifer during a conversation with two nurses from a hospital in Sydney, Australia. (X: Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Two Sydney nurses accused of threatening to kill Israeli patients in a viral video last year pleaded not guilty, local media reports.

Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 27, and Ahmad Rashad Nadir, 28, were seen in a viral video last February, allegedly showing them making threats against Israeli patients during a chat with Israeli influencer Max Veifer.

The video sparked outrage across Australia and the Jewish world after it was released. The pair were later barred from working as nurses nationwide.

At the Downing Centre District Court, both entered not-guilty pleas when asked by Judge Stephen Hanley to respond to charges of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. Abu Lebdeh also faces a charge of threatening violence against a group.

Their trial is scheduled to begin on August 31, and is expected to run for five days. A pretrial hearing on the issue is scheduled for June 1.

Nadir’s lawyer said he will challenge whether the video can legally be used in court as evidence.

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