PALESTINIANS BREAK THROUGH BORDER WITH EGYPT: TWO

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000083

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL PTER EG
SUBJECT: PALESTINIANS BREAK THROUGH BORDER WITH EGYPT: TWO
EGYPTIAN POLICE DEAD, SCORES WOUNDED

Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: GOE contacts from the Foreign Ministry and
Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) confirmed that on
the evening of January 4, a group of Palestinians allegedly
from the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigade broke through the security
wall between Egypt and Gaza allowing nearly 1,000
Palestinians to enter Egypt. According to General Nagy of
DMI, two Ministry of Interior (MOI) police were shot and
killed, and four Border Guards and at least 60 police were
injured during the incident. DMI sources estimate that
approximately 75 Palestinians remain in custody in Rafah, but
the rest of the Palestinians have returned to Gaza. DMI
sources confirmed that Rafah and Karem Shalom border
terminals have been operating normally on January 5. End
summary.


2. (C) General Nagy of DMI and the Liaison Agency with
International Agencies (LAWIO) said that the GOE received
information early on January 4 suggesting the potential for
violence on the border with Gaza. MOI police based in the
nearby town of Al Arish were therefore, Nagy said, ready to
deploy immediately when Palestinians allegedly from the Al
Aksa Martyrs Brigade used tractors stolen from the Rafah
municipality to break through the cement barrier between Gaza
and Egypt. DMI sources said the Al Aksa group was pressing
for the release of Alaa Al Hams, imprisoned for his reported
involvement in the kidnapping of a British national Kate
Burton and her family on December 28.


3. (C) Nagy said that the Border Guard Forces arrived on
the scene first, MOI police joined soon after. Two police
were killed, four Border Guards and 30-60 police were injured
when Palestinians fired shots from inside Gaza, Nagy said.
MFA's Palestinian Affairs Office Director Randa Labib
confirmed the reports on the number of police dead and
wounded and estimated that at least 100 Palestinians are
still in custody in Rafah. According to General Nagy,
approximately 75 Palestinians remain in custody and under
investigation in Rafah, but the rest of the Palestinians
returned to Gaza.


4. (C) The Egyptians have told us that they have picked up
most of the Palestinians -- mostly youths -- who crossed into
Egypt. Of these, all but 75 (Egyptian General Intelligence
Service reports 35) are being held for interrogation. The
rest have returned to Gaza or been returned. We judge that
not all the Palestinians were captured. Egyptians are at
pains to downplay the significance of this incident.
Nonetheless, it appears that the Egyptians responded swiftly
and appropriately to the incursion.


5. (C) DMI contacts said that the Palestinian Authority has
already closed the holes in the damaged wall and appear to be
bolstering security in Gaza. General Nagy confirmed that
border terminals at Rafah and Karem Shalom have been
operating normally on January 5.

RICCIARDONE