DATE=10/05/00
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS / HOSPITAL (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-267486
BYLINE=ROSS DUNN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A hospital at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem has found itself at the crossroads of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The institution is not only treating the wounded from the recent clashes but has itself also come under attack.
Ross Dunn reports from Jerusalem.
TEXT: On a normal day, tourists to the Holy Land often climb the tower at the Augusta Victoria Hospital for a better view of Jerusalem's Old City.
Situated on the Mount of Olives, the beautiful stone buildings and courtyard also seem like a welcome relief from the city's hustle and bustle.
But events at the hospital have not been normal in recent days.
For nearly a week, Augusta Victoria has been part of a closed military zone after rioting Palestinians entered the grounds, seeking refuge from Israeli security forces.
They were pursued by Israeli special forces who opened fire without warning, sending terrified hospital staff and patients ducking for cover.
One of the eyewitnesses was the Chief Executive of the hospital, Craig Kippels.
/// ACT KIPPEL ///
Some of the young Palestinians ran into our property adjacent to the hospital. Our security began the process of attempting to stem the flow of those youth coming into the property, but in the process, the Israeli military basically came through our main entrance, stormed the length of the property and began shooting on our property.
///ACT ENDS///
Mr. Kippels says that in the aftermath of the shootings, the hospital staff came with stretchers and began rushing victims into the emergency ward.
The hospital director says at least one of the wounded did not survive.
/// ACT KIPPEL ///
Some of the patients came into our emergency room wounded with live ammunition. The wounds that these people received were very, very severe particularly in the heads and the chests. The patient that died had literally a head-wound that blew his skull off.
///ACT ENDS///
Mr. Kippels says he has protested strongly over the actions of the Israeli security forces but they have refused to withdraw from the streets outside the hospital.
Dr Tawfiq Nasser, the Palestinian director of the hospital, says roadblocks have been set up around the institution.
The situation, according to Dr. Nasser, is affecting the ability of the hospital to provide medical care because the Israeli security forces are turning away patients and staff.
///ACT NASSER///
We are still unable to get some of the critical and very important key people into the hospital. Even though the checkpoint is not (in) front of the hospital anymore, the whole area is sealed.
///ACT ENDS///
Dr Nasser says with the Islamic militants calling for a "day of anger" (on Friday) there may be worse violence still to come and the Augusta Victoria Hospital will continue to be under siege. (SIGNED)
NEB/RD/GE/PLM
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