Holmes: Inside a devastated security compound

CNN's Michael Holmes

RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Palestinian security headquarters in Ramallah was in ruins Tuesday after a fierce assault by Israeli forces, while Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat remained holed up in his office on the other side of the West Bank city.

CNN Correspondent Michael Holmes, who has been covering the violence in Ramallah, walked through the rubble of the security compound and described the scene. He spoke with CNN Anchor Leon Harris:

LEON HARRIS: Israel says that the Palestinian militants were the target of the attack today on the Palestinian security headquarters in Ramallah. CNN's Michael Holmes managed to get inside the compound. He is live right now, and we can actually see him.

Michael, we are glad to see you, because your [phone] died last time we spoke last hour. We were just hoping that didn't mean anything negative there. Good to see you.

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HOLMES: Yes, that just meant a dead cell phone battery, fortunately. Yes, [it was] an extraordinary scene there. Last night, we listened to incredible sounds of armament being put into this compound. Now let's establish what it is. It's called the "preventative security headquarters." It is the home of the Palestinian security apparatus. It's a significant facility in terms of the Palestinian Authority. It's probably about two miles from Yasser Arafat's own compound. We had tank shells going in, heavy machine gunfire. And as dawn broke, I watched as helicopter gunships came in and fired rockets as well. Now we were out filming at a couple of different places and then tried to get to the compound, not really expecting to be able to.

We were turned away a couple of times when we tried to get through. And we went [by] another route and eventually found ourselves literally at the compound gates. We went in and there were Israeli armored vehicles there and a tank, and nobody stopped us filming. And so we went inside and walked around what is a devastated security compound.

Every building in that place, and there are about four of them, has been severely damaged, every window knocked out -- bullet holes, tank shell holes in the wall. [We] also saw the damage done by helicopter rockets, and there was a scene of devastation, rubble on the ground, burned cars, crashed cars. It was certainly a ferocious assault.

There were, according to Palestinian sources, some 300-350 people inside there listening to all of this, experiencing all of this. What we're told happened...this morning, was an American-brokered agreement to allow those inside to come out. They did, and were taken to Israeli settlement, including the wounded, and [we are] yet to get a formal casualty count at the moment.

Sorry about the noises. We have a tank rumbling by behind us. We have yet to get a full casualty count. But all of the people, including the wounded, are at this Israeli settlement where they are being processed, interviewed, and Israel saying, of course, that they believe inside that security headquarters, there were dozens, perhaps, of wanted terrorist. That compound houses the offices of Jibril Rajoub, the head of preventative security. His office building, a four-story affair, was burned out on the top two floors, [and] severely damaged on the bottom two. It also houses [a] prison where Palestinian prisoners are kept, those arrested by Palestinian authorities.

Leon, also this afternoon there has been a lifting of the curfew that has kept Palestinians indoors, a temporary lifting that lasted for 2 1/2 hours. People came out on the streets, initially gingerly. Several asked: Is it true, is the curfew listed? We went to stores and were able to stock up on desperately needed items. People were telling us they had no milk for their children, no water. The water has been cut off in many parts of Ramallah, as has the electricity in some areas as well. They were able to go out and do some shopping, and the people we spoke to were very grateful to be able to do so. The one exception was a curfew not lifted around Yasser Arafat's compound, the Palestinian Authority headquarters. It was kept in place there, although we're told by Israeli sources that foodstuffs and some essentials were delivered to Palestinian people in what Israel calls a humanitarian operation. There are certainly some very relieved people.

One other thing happened today, Leon, [that] caught us all by surprise. We saw from this position here, four U.N. SUVs -- clearly marked United Nations vehicles -- and a truck drive past. We quickly got into armored car and followed, and they went to the Ramallah hospital, where they said that they had to liaison with Israeli authorities in order to get permission to drop off some desperately needed medical supplies to the hospital -- blood and the like. And while we were there, too, a doctor took [us] into the hospital mortuary, and it was quite a sight. There are perhaps 30 bodies in a mortuary that should be holding maybe 20. And a hastily dug grave was dug outside when the curfew temporarily lifted, and some of the bodies were buried literally under a parked car -- Leon.

LEON HARRIS: Fascinating. Michael, that is an absolute wealth of reporting information. Let me ask you one question about this siege and the security compound there, and we heard the Israelis say that they thought some 400 people in there at some point, as you say.

Israeli tanks at the Palestinian security compound in Ramallah, West Bank

Was there ever any evidence that there were 400 people inside and people were engaged in any sort of terrorist activity, or anything of the sort?

HOLMES: Very difficult to know. I think the figure of 400 or so is probably accurate, because both sides gave similar figures. So there were 350-400 people in there last night during this ferocious barrage. We understand that there are some underground areas there, and perhaps that's where they're sheltered, because judging by the damage done to this compound, we would have expected ... a large number of casualties. We don't know that there is a large number. One figure we heard perhaps was 30, which would indicate that these people took shelter somewhere reasonably safe.

As for who was in there, you're right, Israel says there were dozen of wanted terrorists -- perhaps those who had planned suicide bombings and the like. The Palestinian argument is that there is a prison there, and that these people were prisoners. Many of them had been arrested by Palestinian security forces in response to requests by Israel, and they had arrested them, and they were in custody. There was obviously a dispute over who should be holding them, however.

HARRIS: Real quickly, if you could tell us, Michael, do you know what those tanks that we heard moments ago behind you, what they were doing, where they were heading?

HOLMES: You know, Leon, it just becomes part of the white noise of Ramallah, really -- tanks and APCs [armored personnel carriers] rumbling by. They have a couple of regular routes. One of them just happens to be right behind us. You just missed the whole bout of gunshots in the background. The APCs are driving around at the moment, firing into the air to just let people know if they didn't know already that the curfew is over, and to go home.

HARRIS: Good deal. Michael Holmes. You be safe and check back with us later on to make sure you're doing okay.