VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN GAZA AMID REPORTS OF HAMAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001486

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA;
DS/IP/NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2016
TAGS: MOPS KPAL KWBG PREL IS
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN GAZA AMID REPORTS OF HAMAS
EFFORTS TO STOP FATAH AND PIJ ATTACKS


Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The IDF continued shelling Gaza for a fourth
day in response to the launching of six more Qassam rockets
into Israel. PA Interior Minister Siad Siam and Foreign
Minister Mahmud al-Zahar reportedly initiated a low profile
political effort to convince Fatah and Palestinian Islamic
Jihad (PIJ) leaders to stop the Qassam attacks. Israeli
shelling struck a heavily populated area of Beit Lahya,
killing a child and injuring 16 others. END SUMMARY.

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HAMAS Leaders Try to Calm
Security in Gaza
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2. (C) Fatah official Yasir al-Masri (strictly protect) told
ConGen officers on April 11 that HAMAS Interior Minister Siad
Siam and Foreign Minister Mahmud al-Zahar were urging
militant factions to cease Qassam attacks on Israel.
Al-Masri said the HAMAS leaders had contacted officials at
the Fatah Office of Mobilization and Organization and asked
them to use their influence to deter further Qassam attacks.
In Gaza, al-Masri said the HAMAS leaders contacted Fatah
officials Ibrahim Abu Najah and Abdallah Ifrangi, asking them
to use their influence to control the Fatah militants
responsible for the attacks. Al-Masri reported that HAMAS
delivered the same message to PIJ leader Khaled al-Batsch.
Al-Masri described HAMAS' efforts as ironic, given the
movement's terrorist record, and said the effort was unlikely
to succeed in the current political environment.


3. (C) Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (AMB) and PIJ published a
joint statement on April 10 pledging speedy retaliation for
the Israeli shelling in Gaza and promising to continue
resistance to the occupation. (NOTE: Fatah-affiliated
militias and PIJ have claimed responsibility for the recent
up-tick in Qassam attacks and attempted suicide bombings.
END NOTE.)

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Qassam Attacks,
Shelling Continue
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4. (SBU) Israeli media sources reported that 6 Qassam rockets
were launched into Israel on April 10. IDF spokesmen
confirmed that Israeli artillery fired several hundred shells
into areas of northern Gaza used for launching Qassam rockets
between April 10 and 11. In Beit Lahya, an artillery shell
struck a home in a heavily populated area at approximately
1650L, killing 9-year-old Hadil Ghraban and severely injuring
16 other members of her family, including 7 children and a
pregnant woman. No Israeli casualties were reported as a
result of the Qassam attacks.

WALLES