Israel Shiran, uncle of an IDF soldier wounded in Lebanon and hospitalized at Rambam Medical Center, said Monday that hospital staff locked the family out of the ward and treated his nephew in a degrading manner. According to Shiran, the soldier's brother was forced to break into the ward to provide care. Shiran's account follows similar claims by the soldier's brother, David Chesterman, over the weekend.
On Monday, Israel Shiran, uncle of the wounded IDF soldier, corroborated the account of the soldier's brother, David Chesterman, saying that Rambam Medical Center staff locked the family out of the ward and treated his nephew in a 'degrading' manner that 'bordered on abuse.' Shiran said the brother was forced to break into the ward to provide care. The hospital has not yet responded to the latest allegations.
The story first emerged Sunday morning when Yehoshua Shani, father of fallen Lt. Ori Shani, published a detailed account alleging that his nephew, IDF soldier Eitan, was left unattended and begging for water during a night shift. Later Sunday, the soldier's brother, David Chesterman, said he broke open the ward door after staff locked the family out, and that Arabic-speaking staff were hostile. Rambam Medical Center updated Sunday afternoon that one of four soldiers wounded in the same Lebanon incident had stabilized, while three remain in intensive care. The soldier's specific identity and condition have not been disclosed.
The allegations come amid ongoing IDF operations in southern Lebanon, where the soldier was wounded. The family has reported that the soldier, sedated and ventilated, asked his family not to leave him. The Zioneer reported Sunday evening that the brother's account was first carried by Channel 14's Yinon Magal.
It remains unclear whether the hospital will investigate the family's claims. The allegations of neglect and rough handling have not been independently verified. Rambam has not issued a statement addressing the specific accusations by the uncle or the brother.
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