Palestinian Muslim nurse Fired from New York hospital for calling Israeli massacre genocide
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Termination after being awarded for her creditable work was what was in store for Palestinian American Muslim nurse Hesen Jabr as a result of calling Israel’s massacre in Gaza a genocide during her award acceptance speech at NYU Langone Health.
Jabr, who worked in the labour and delivery department, was recognized for her contributions to supporting bereaved mothers. During her speech on May 7, she described the ongoing conflict in Gaza as a "genocide," referencing the personal impact of witnessing the suffering of women in her homeland, Reuters reported.
The hospital's spokesperson confirmed Jabr's dismissal, noting she had previously been cautioned against discussing her views on this sensitive issue at work. This warning followed an earlier incident in December, though specific details of that event were not disclosed.
The spokesperson stated that Jabr's comments at the employee recognition event had upset several colleagues, leading to the decision to end her employment.
Jabr shared her side of the story on Instagram, detailing that she received the termination letter later in May. She emphasized the personal significance of her award, tying it to the grief experienced by mothers in Gaza amidst the conflict.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has resulted in over 36,000 deaths in Gaza over the past eight months, according to the local health ministry. The violence has also caused extensive hunger and displaced nearly the entire population of the 2.3 million residents of the coastal enclave. This conflict has heightened tensions globally, sparking demonstrations and increasing instances of Islamophobia and antisemitism.
The conflict erupted on October 7, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. The Hamas side cited the background of continued Israel atrocities on occupied Palestine land for their retaliatory strike. The repercussions of this event have been severe, both in the region and internationally.