WB/G SITREP: IDF MISSILE STRIKE INJURES ONE HAMAS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002009

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/SA/EX FOR AUSTIN-FERGUSON; DEPT
FOR DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PBTS PHUM KWBG CASC IS
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: IDF MISSILE STRIKE INJURES ONE HAMAS
MILITANT NEAR KHAN YUNIS, FOLLOWING MISSILE BARRAGE ON GUSH
KATIF: MAY 18, 2005 (1600 HOURS LOCAL)


This is a joint Embassy/ConGen cable.


1. (SBU) Summary: In the Gaza Strip, the IDF fired missiles
at two Hamas militants May 18, injuring one critically, as
the two were reportedly preparing to fire mortars into the
Gush Katif settlement bloc. The IDF action followed a
barrage of five mortars into the settlement earlier in the
day. IDF soldiers shot and killed one Palestinian overnight
May 17-18 in Rafah. Reports vary, but the man was either
killed during an exchange of gunfire with the IDF that
erupted after Palestinian militants launched an anti-tank
rocket at an IDF position along the border, or while he was
in the process of planting an IED along the border fence.
UNRWA and Israeli press identified the dead Palestinian as a
Hamas militant. There were reports of rocket, mortar, and
shooting incidents elsewhere in the Gaza Strip, but no
reported injuries. In the West Bank, a total of six
Palestinians were arrested May 17-18 during clashes and IDF
arrest operations. According to press reports, the PA
Elections Court of Appeals on May 17 decided to annul
election results from a number of polling stations in Rafah,
citing voting irregularities. End summary.

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West Bank
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: Nil.

-- Injuries: According to UN information, at least ten
Palestinians on May 17 sustained injuries when clashes took
place between Palestinians and the IDF in Dura village,
southwest of Hebron (see "Arrests").


3. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY:

-- Arrests: The IDF on May 17 arrested a total of three
Palestinians in the northern West Bank towns of Jenin,
Qalqilya, and Huwwara.

-- Arrests: The IDF on May 17 arrested two Palestinians
during clashes with the IDF in Dura village, southwest of
Hebron.

-- Arrest: According to UN information, a special undercover
IDF unit on May 18 entered Bethlehem and arrested one
Palestinian.

-- Demonstration in Hebron: During a May 17 demonstration in
Hebron, approximately 50 al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades activists
called for the removal of the local PA police commander.

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Gaza
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4. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: UNRWA and the IDF reported that one Palestinian was
killed overnight May 17-18 in Rafah, along the Egyptian-Gaza
border. The IDF reported that IDF soldiers shot and killed
the man during an exchange of fire that broke out after
Palestinian militants launched an anti-tank rocket at an IDF
position along the border. UNRWA, however, reported that IDF
soldiers opened fire at the man as he was planting an IED
near the security fence there, adding that the dead man was a
Hamas militant.

-- Injury: the IDF fired missiles at two Hamas militants May
18, injuring one critically, as the two were reportedly
preparing to fire mortars into the Gush Katif settlement bloc
(see "Mortars/Rockets").

-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF and Israeli media reported that
Palestinian militants fired a barrage of five mortar shells
into the Gush Katif settlement bloc May 18, one of which
narrowly missed hitting a school in Neve Dekalim. No Israeli
injuries were reported from the attack, but one Palestinian
was critically injured when the IDF successfully targeted the
militants with a missile (see "Injury").

-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF reported that Palestinian
militants fired five mortar shells towards Morag settlement
and a sixth at an IDF outpost west of Khan Yunis overnight
May 17-18. Militants also fired two anti-tank rockets
towards IDF outposts in Rafah in the same period.
-- Shootings: The IDF reported that IDF soldiers and
Palestinian militants engaged in five separate exchanges of
fire overnight May 17-18.


5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was open May 18, with a major detour at Netzarim
Junction.

-- Erez Crossing was open for Palestinians May 17, and a
total of 3,987 laborers and 179 merchants crossed into Israel.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open May 17, and 580 laborers
entered the zone.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers May 18,
but was open for the import of aggregates used in
construction.

-- Karni Terminal was open May 18.

-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures May

18.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed May 18. Toufah
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except males
aged 16-30.


6. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- Palestinian and media sources reported that, in response
to a complaint lodged by Fatah, the PA Elections Court of
Appeals decided May 17 to annul election results from a
number of polling stations in Rafah. In its decision, the
court cited irregularities in the conduct of the voting due
to inaccurate voter registration lists.
Pearce