Investigation Alleges Rising Antisemitism in Australia's Health System

A wide-ranging investigation published by The Australian presents numerous accounts pointing to a sharp rise in antisemitism within Australia's health care system since the October 7 massacre. 

Jewish patients and medical professionals describe a hostile atmosphere marked by discrimination and harassment, with some testimonies even raising concerns about possible deliberate harm during medical treatment. According to the investigation, many Jews are now afraid to seek care at hospitals and clinics, while others choose to hide their Jewish identity out of fear it could affect the treatment they receive.

The investigation is based on interviews with more than 30 doctors, nurses, midwives, and other health care professionals. Those interviewed described multiple incidents in which Jewish patients and staff encountered antisemitic remarks, discriminatory treatment, and harassment because of their identity.

One of the central testimonies comes from Charlotte Freiman, the daughter of an Auschwitz survivor. She said that during a hospital stay in Melbourne, a Muslim nurse attempted four times to insert an IV after, she believes, noticing that her religion was listed as Judaism. Freiman said the procedure was carried out contrary to protocol, causing her severe pain and bruising. She also claimed that similar incidents occurred during subsequent hospital visits. 

Another testimony came from Israeli woman Orit Brand, who said a nurse unsuccessfully attempted to insert an IV eight times. According to Brand, once another staff member took over, the procedure was completed immediately and without pain.

Additional testimonies describe cases of degrading treatment toward Jewish female patients. Midwife Sharon Stoliar told the newspaper about a Jewish woman who, after undergoing a cesarean section, was left for hours without pain medication, lying in a pool of blood while her newborn cried beside her. According to Stoliar, when a nurse finally arrived, she treated the woman roughly and without compassion.

In another case, a Jewish patient in the intensive care unit at a hospital in Adelaide said a nurse made comments in her presence denying both the Holocaust and the October 7 massacre.

The investigation also examines the experiences of Jewish medical professionals. According to the report, Jewish doctors and medical students faced boycotts and verbal abuse, while some avoided filing complaints out of concern that doing so would damage their careers. Several interviewees requested anonymity, citing fears for their personal safety and professional future.

The report further describes the activities of pro-Palestinian groups of doctors and nurses, which reportedly led to the cancellation of an international trauma conference in Perth. The conference had been scheduled to feature Professor Alon Glazberg, the former Chief Medical Officer of the IDF, who planned to lecture on life-saving treatment for gunshot and blast injuries. 

Trauma specialists quoted in the investigation said the cancellation deprived Australian medical teams of valuable knowledge that could help save lives during mass-casualty events.

According to the investigation, pro-Palestinian activism has also entered hospitals. Staff members were reportedly seen wearing political symbols, participating in anti-Israel demonstrations, distributing stickers bearing the slogan "From the River to the Sea," and posting social media content that included antisemitic messages, comparisons between the war in Gaza and the Holocaust, and expressions of support for terrorist organizations.

The report also claims that Jewish medical professionals or supporters of Israel who challenged allegations of "genocide" or shared information about Hamas's use of hospitals in Gaza faced disciplinary proceedings. By contrast, according to the testimonies, complaints against medical professionals who allegedly posted pro-Hamas or antisemitic content were closed without meaningful action. 

The investigation also criticizes Australia's Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), with interviewees claiming it failed to respond decisively to incidents of antisemitism.

The publication of the investigation comes as Australia continues to investigate two siblings from Bankstown Hospital in Sydney, Ahmad Nadir and Sarah Abu-Lebdeh. The pair were recorded in a video saying they would refuse to treat Israeli patients and even threatening to kill them. During the recording, made by Israeli social media influencer Max Veifer, Abu-Lebdeh said that if an Israeli patient arrived, she would kill him, while Nadir claimed he had already sent many Israelis "to hell" during his work at the hospital.

The video sparked widespread public outrage. However, in June 2026, an Australian court ruled that the recording was inadmissible as evidence because it had been obtained in violation of local wiretapping laws. Following the ruling, Australia's attorney general took the unusual step of filing an appeal in an effort to overturn the decision.