UK
Woman says she stepped in as elderly Jewish couple targeted in NHS waiting room
Jewish couple in emergency room allegedly blamed for war in Gaza by fellow patient until member of the public intervened
August 15, 2025 13:57
Jewish couple in emergency room allegedly blamed for war in Gaza by fellow patient until member of the public intervened
August 15, 2025 13:57A woman who says she stepped in to defend an elderly Jewish couple from verbal abuse in a hospital waiting room has urged others to challenge antisemitism when they see it.
Journalist Laura Williams was at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Emergency Department with her husband when she witnessed the alleged incident.
Williams, who is not Jewish, said she saw a woman verbally attack the couple, who were visibly Jewish.
“I heard a woman zone in on an elderly Jewish couple and start angrily talking about how terrible what 'their people' were doing in Palestine was, before launching into a monologue about the atrocities in Gaza and how they should be ashamed,” she recalled.
“I went into autopilot and headed straight over,” William said. “I have a strong sense of justice and am unafraid to stand up for what is right.”
She approached the woman and said: “It's not OK to attack people like this over the actions of a foreign government.”
Williams, who later took to LinkedIn to post about the incident, said that the man appeared to be in his 80s. She asked him if he was ok, and “he shrugged.” But the woman continued her tirade, saying “‘I sympathise with the holocaust but…’ before going off on one again and telling me to mind my own business.”
The couple eventually left the waiting room, and when they did, the woman who had been shouting at them “poked her tongue out at me,” Williams claimed. William said she did not report the incident to hospital staff at the time.
She told the JC that she wants others to interject when they see discrimination. “It starts with words. That’s where we must combat it.”
“It was an automatic response for me, but not without risk. I do wish I’d have reported it to the hospital at the time, but the Jewish couple said it was OK. I don’t think it was.”
A few other patients praised her for stepping in, which others started at her “like I was crazy,” Williams said.
"I still can’t get my head around how it’s rare and controversial to stand up for Jewish people amidst a rising tide of hate.
“If - as a non-religious person - you speak up for Jewish people, too many write you off as supporting military action in Gaza which, for me, is absolutely not true.”
She added, “Intervening in this hospital waiting room isn't about condoning the military action (I am very much opposed to that) or not caring about the people of Gaza (it's absolutely awful what they're facing), it's about refusing to allow antisemitism to take hold again.
“I see discrimination rising in Bournemouth - not only for Jewish people, but asylum seekers and women too, and it’s so important we challenge this where we see it - be it from the press, on social media or in a hospital waiting room.”
Dr Peter Wilson, Chief Medical Officer, told the JC he was sorry to hear about the incident and encouraged people to report any verbal abuse to a member of staff.
“We are very sorry to hear of this incident in our hospital, and thank Laura for intervening. We do not tolerate any discrimination in our hospitals and would ask people who witness anything to report it to a member of staff so we can take action immediately.
“Working with staff and patients, we have developed a behaviour charter that includes details of how we expect our patients and visitors to behave. This includes treating everyone with dignity and respect, and respecting all cultures and beliefs,” Wilson said.
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