A nurse at a New York City hospital was fired after referring to Israel’s war in Gaza as a “genocide” during an award acceptance speech. Hesen Jabr, a Palestinian American labor and delivery nurse, made the comments during a speech in which she linked her work to the suffering of mothers in Gaza. Following the speech, Jabr was called into a meeting with the hospital’s president and vice president of nursing, where she was accused of putting others at risk, ruining the ceremony, and offending people.
Jabr was then read her termination letter and escorted out of the building. A spokesperson for NYU Langone Health confirmed that Jabr was fired, citing a previous incident in December where she was warned not to bring her views on the conflict into the workplace. The spokesperson stated that despite the warning, Jabr chose to make the comments at an employee recognition event that upset some of her colleagues. As a result, she was no longer employed by NYU Langone Health.
Jabr defended her speech in an interview, stating that it was relevant given the nature of the award for bereavement and grieving mothers. The conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 36,000 deaths, with 80% of the population displaced and parts of the territory experiencing famine. Critics have accused Israel of genocide during its military campaign in Gaza, while Israel denies these allegations and maintains that it is protecting the civilian population.
This is not the first incident of an employee at NYU Langone Health being fired over comments related to the Middle East conflict. Previously, a researcher at the hospital’s cancer center was terminated after posting anti-Hamas political cartoons. Jabr’s firing was also not her first time in the spotlight, as she was involved in a lawsuit with the American Civil Liberties Union at the age of 11 after being forced to accept a Bible from the principal of her public school. Jabr remains steadfast in her beliefs and her actions, stating that this is not her first experience with controversy.
The situation involving Jabr’s firing sheds light on the complexities of discussing political issues in a professional setting. While individuals have the right to express their opinions, these views can sometimes clash with the values and beliefs held by organizations. It is important for employees to be mindful of how their words and actions may impact their careers, especially when discussing sensitive topics such as war and genocide. The case of Hesen Jabr serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of expressing controversial views in the workplace.
