A disturbing pattern of antisemitic behavior among healthcare workers has emerged across Australia's medical system, Sky News Australia revealed Thursday, following an explosive investigation into anti-Israel sentiments among medical professionals.
The investigation, led by journalist Sharri Markson of Sky News Australia, uncovered multiple instances of medical practitioners expressing support for Hamas and posting anti-Jewish content on social media, extending far beyond the recent controversy involving two nurses who threatened Israeli patients.
More than 260 Australian doctors warned of systemic prejudice against Jews in the healthcare system in an October 26, 2023, letter to Health Minister Mark Butler, Sky News Australia reported. The doctors urged the minister to direct the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and Australian Medical Council to investigate antisemitic incidents, but their concerns apparently went unaddressed.
EXCLUSIVE: Australian doctors are praising Hamas and saying that Zionists should be destroyed. One doctor said she feared seeing new patients with Jewish names on her list.
Tonight's report here:https://t.co/1KDfHeRdBj— Sharri Markson (@SharriMarkson) February 17, 2025
One particularly concerning case involved Dr. Mohamed Ghilan, who worked at Alfred Hospital until three months ago. "Live like Sinwar or die trying," Ghilan posted on social media. He also shared content praising the slain Hamas leader and declared "I am Hamas, they are Hamas, we are all Hamas."
Alfred Health confirmed to Sky News Australia that they suspended Ghilan in November following concerns about his online activity. "Dr. Ghilan resigned from our health service while the investigation was still in progress," the hospital stated, adding that they reported the concerns to both regulatory authorities and law enforcement. Despite this, Ghilan maintains his medical registration.
The investigation revealed additional troubling cases, including a Western Sydney Local Health District junior medical officer who posted that "every Zionist, young to old, is a psychotic maniac" and called for Zionists to be "defeated, crushed and utterly removed from power."
A long-term NSW Health employee described experiencing both overt and subtle antisemitism at Bankstown Hospital, requesting anonymity to protect their career. The employee reported incidents including a manager using an antisemitic slur, describing someone as "such a f**ing Jew", and colleagues suggesting Israel should cease to exist.
The prevalence of anti-Jewish sentiment has led to the creation of an Instagram account called Not My Doctor, dedicated to exposing antisemitism within the healthcare sector.
NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce responded to the findings, telling Sky News Australia that her department "is committed to combatting antisemitism and hate in all its forms," though she did not address whether specific doctors would face investigation.
