WB/G SITREP: GAZA BOY KILLED BY ROCKET THAT FELL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 004613

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHIE; DEPT FOR
DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN; USAID
FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG PHUM PREL PTER ASEC CASC GZ IS
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: GAZA BOY KILLED BY ROCKET THAT FELL
SHORT; PA SAYS FAMILY MEMBER, NOT SETTLER, KILLED WEST BANK
YOUTH TWO DAYS AGO. JULY 22, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL)

This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable.


1. (SBU) Summary: A homemade rocket launched at a Gaza
settlement failed to hit its intended target on July 21,
killing instead a Palestinian boy in Khan Yunis and wounding
his brother. Only one other incident of rocket fire and only
one incident of mortar fire were reported from Gaza. PA
security forces and Palestinian gunmen exchanged gunfire in
Gaza City starting at about 0100 on July 21. No injuries
were reported. In the West Bank, PA security forces on July
21 announced that a family member -- not settlers, as earlier
reported -- killed a Palestinian youth in Qaryut, near
Nablus, on July 20. End summary.

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Gaza
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths/Rockets: A homemade rocket fired from Khan Yunis
toward the Neve Dekalim settlement at 1445 on July 21 fell
short and landed on the house of a Palestinian family,
killing a Palestinian boy reported as either 12 or 13 years
old by UNRWA and the Israeli media.

-- Injuries/Rockets: The younger brother of the Palestinian
boy killed by a Palestinian rocket (see "Deaths/Rockets") was
wounded in the same attack. UNRWA reported that the boy was
ten years old and suffered moderate injuries. The Israeli
media, citing PA sources, reported that the boy was seven
years old and critically wounded.

-- Mortars: The IDF reported only one instance of either
mortar or rocket fire during the 24 hours ending at 0600 on
July 22, a mortar shell launched at 1435 on July 21 at IDF
soldiers located about four kms south of Kissufim crossing.
No injuries were reported.

-- Rockets: In addition to the rocket that killed a
Palestinian boy and wounded his brother in Khan Yunis (see
"Deaths/Rockets" and "Injuries/Rockets"),UNRWA reported one
homemade rocket fired from Beit Lahia toward the northern
Gaza settlements at 1045 on July 21. No injuries were
reported from the incident.

-- Shootings: UNRWA reported that unknown men fired at a PA
security service vehicle traveling in Gaza City at 0100 on
July 21. Additional PA security vehicles arrived and pursued
the attackers. Sporadic exchanges of gunfire were
subsequently reported in several places in Gaza City. No
injuries were reported.

-- Shootings: The IDF reported eight separate incidents of
gunfire between 1300 on July 21 and 0340 on July 22. All
were directed at IDF outposts around the Gaza Strip. Three
of the incidents involved fire against IDF outposts near Khan
Yunis; two others against IDF outposts near Neve Dekalim; and
single incidents near Morag, Kissufim Crossing, and Rafiah
Yam. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.

-- Explosions: The IDF detonated an explosive device found
approximately one kilometer south of an IDF outpost south of
Rafah at 2345 on July 21.


3. (SBU) ARRESTS: Nil.


4. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil.


5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was open.

-- Erez Crossing was closed to Palestinians except those
holding Jerusalem IDs. It was open for international
travelers.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was closed.

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

-- Karni Terminal was partially open.

-- Rafah Terminal was open in both directions except for
Palestinian males between the ages of 16 and 35, who are
barred from traveling from Gaza to Egypt through the terminal.
-- Toufah checkpoint was open in both directions for all
Palestinians except males aged 16 to 30 .


6. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: Israeli media reported that
IDF sources estimate that about 600 disengagement opponents
have in recent days sneaked into Gaza settlements despite the
GOI closure of the settlements. (Estimates range from
several dozen to 2,000.) The new arrivals reportedly plan to
remain to fight against efforts to remove the settlers.

--------------
West Bank
--------------


7. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: PA security forces on July 21 announced that a
family member -- not settlers, as earlier reported -- killed
a Palestinian youth in Qaryut, near Nablus, on July 20.

-- Injury: Nil.

-- Shooting: Palestinian gunmen on July 21 opened fire on IDF
soldiers operating in Qabatiya village, south of Jenin.
There were no reported injuries from this incident. (See
&Arrests8).


8. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY:

-- Arrests: IDF soldiers operating in Qabatiya village, south
of Jenin, on July 21 arrested two Fatah activists.

-- Incursion/Arrest: The IDF the evening of July 21 entered
Jenin refugee camp and arrested one Fatah activist.

-- Security: IDF sappers on July 21 defused a bomb in Tulkarm
refugee camp. There were no reported injuries.

-- Security: The Palestinian Authority police on July 21
handed over to the Israeli DCO one IDF soldier and three
Israeli women who had entered Bethlehem by mistake.

-- The IDF on July 21 set up an observation tower in the
vicinity of Route 60 near al-Khadr village, west of Bethlehem.


9. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- According to Palestinian press reports from July 22,
Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas stated that the
clashes between Fatah/PA and Hamas had ended except for a few
isolated incidents.

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