A nurse named Hesen Jabr was terminated from NYU Langone Health after making a connection between the suffering of mothers in Gaza and her work during an award speech. The incident occurred on May 22, following the nurse's acceptance of a compassionate care award on May 7.
Jabr, who is Palestinian American, drew attention to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and referred to it as a 'genocide.' Her comments were made during an event honoring her work with mothers who had lost their babies. The hospital administration took issue with her remarks and summoned Jabr for a meeting, where she was subsequently fired.
The nurse's termination follows previous incidents involving NYU Langone employees discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on social media. In November 2023, physician Zaki Masoud was removed from his residency program after reposting a message in support of Palestinian resistance on a private Instagram account. A petition to reinstate him gained over 100,000 signatures.
In the same month, the former director of NYU Langone Health's Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center was terminated after making social media posts related to the war in Gaza. The former director, Benjamin Neel, has since filed a lawsuit against the medical center alleging discrimination on religious grounds.
Jabr's speech during the award ceremony touched upon her personal connection to the situation and her desire to represent grieving mothers from both New York and Gaza. She stated that it pains her to see women in Gaza experiencing unimaginable losses, which she described as part of an ongoing genocide.
The termination of Hesen Jabr has sparked controversy and debate regarding freedom of speech and the role of employers in regulating employees' personal opinions. Some argue that the hospital should have allowed Jabr to express her views without fear of reprisal, while others believe that her comments were inappropriate for a professional setting.
Despite being fired, Hesen Jabr remains committed to advocating for compassion and understanding between people from different backgrounds. She continues to use social media as a platform to share her perspective and engage in dialogue with others.