David Chesterman, brother of a wounded IDF soldier hospitalized at Rambam Medical Center, said Sunday evening that he broke open the ward door after staff locked the family out. According to a report by Yinon Magal (Channel 14), Chesterman entered the room and found his brother asking for help with no one responding.
David Chesterman, brother of an IDF soldier wounded in Lebanon and hospitalized at Rambam Medical Center, said Sunday evening (22:36 Jerusalem) that he forced open the ward door after staff locked the family out. This follows earlier allegations by the soldier's father, Yehoshua Shani, who published a detailed account Sunday morning (08:25 Jerusalem) describing similar neglect.
The first reports came from Yehoshua Shani (father of fallen Lt. Ori Shani), who alleged that his nephew, IDF soldier Eitan, was left unattended and begging for water during a night shift staffed entirely by Arabic-speaking personnel. He called for an immediate investigation by the hospital and the IDF. Later, David Chesterman, the soldier's brother, gave a firsthand account to Channel 14, describing how he broke the door open and found his brother asking for help with no response. The brother also alleged that staff abused the soldier, including banging his head against the bed — a claim that has not been independently verified.
The incident has drawn attention on social media and among Israeli politicians, with calls for an investigation into the treatment of wounded soldiers at Rambam. The soldier's family has appealed for the public to pray for his recovery. The hospital has not yet issued a public response to the allegations.
The allegations of abuse remain unverified, and it is unclear whether the hospital has initiated an internal investigation. The Zioneer will continue to follow developments.
5 developments
- StrongBrother of wounded IDF soldier: Arabic-speaking staff locked us out of Rambam ward
- DevelopingBrother of wounded IDF soldier says patient asked not to be abandoned
- DevelopingRambam staff member breaks silence in first interview amid soldier treatment controversy
- DevelopingWounded IDF veteran recounts positive treatment by Arab Bedouin doctor at Soroka
Source and signal
- Open-source intake