Military

DATE=8/3/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PALESTINIANS / POLITICS (L-ONLY) (CQ)

NUMBER=2-318005

BYLINE= ROSS DUNN

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

/// EDITORS: RE-RUNNING TO CHANGE SLUG ///

HEADLINE: Two Palestinian Collaborators Shot Dead in Gaza Hospital

INTRO: Palestinian militants have twice raided a Gaza city hospital to kill two men convicted of collaborating with Israel. The attacks took place despite promises by the Palestinian Authority to calm the political unrest between supporters and opponents of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Ross Dunn reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: Gunmen broke in two times to the main hospital in Gaza City and shot dead men convicted of collaborating with Israeli intelligence.

The victims were gunned down in almost identical attacks just hours apart.

In each incident, Palestinian militants first closed off the street outside the hospital before the gunmen rushed into the building.

The victims had been taken to the hospital for treatment for wounds they suffered earlier when a grenade was thrown into their jail cell in Gaza.

One of the men was convicted in 2002 of providing Israel with information that helped Israeli soldiers kill a founding member of the military wing of Hamas.

The other was convicted in 1999 of being involved in the killing of a senior military commander of the Islamic Jihad.

Hamas and Jihad have both carried out suicide bombings and other attacks against Israel and are listed by the State Department as terrorist organizations.

The latest killings and the manner in which they flaunted law and order adds to growing complaints of lawlessness and lack of discipline in the Palestinian territories.

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has promised reforms in a bid to quell the dissatisfaction with his Palestinian Authority.

Meantime, armed Palestinians who back Mr. Arafat have broken up meetings of Palestinians who demand the Palestinian Authority rid itself of corruption and mismanagement. (signed)

NEB/RD/DW/KL/KBK