INTERIOR MINISTER DEPLOYS MILITANTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002007

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2016
TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL IS
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTER DEPLOYS MILITANTS

REF: A. JERUSALEM 01467


B. JERUSALEM 01622

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Interior Minister Siad Siam deployed the
recently formed Special Security Force, composed of militants
from several factions, in Gaza on May 17 following several
weeks of escalating violence. Siam took this action after
gunmen assassinated two prominent HAMAS military leaders in
Gaza on May 16. END SUMMARY.

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HAMAS-PSO Tensions
Spark Killings
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2. (C) Interior Minister Siam announced his decision to
deploy the Special Security Force after several days of
escalating violence between HAMAS militants and elements of
the Fatah affiliated PSO. Gunmen thought to have been
affiliated with HAMAS blew up several cars parked outside the
home of PSO officer Tahir Khwaiter on May 16 in Gaza City's
Zaytun neighborhood. According ConGen contacts, Khwaiter was
among the PSO officers responsible for several recent
incidents in which HAMAS PLC members were manhandled or
embarrassed by the PSO (ref A).


3. (C) Later the same day, unidentified gunmen apparently
responded by killing HAMAS military leader Muhammad al-Tatar.
Al-Tatar was struck by gunfire from a passing car as he
drove through downtown Gaza City. In a separate incident,
gunmen wounded HAMAS military leader Muhammad Musbeh at 2100L
on May 16 as he sat in a barbershop in the village of Abassan
al-Jadida near Khan Yunis. Six militants and several
bystanders were also wounded. Officials from the President's
Office in Ramallah indicated to POL FSN during a May 17
telcon that elements of the PSO were believed to have been
involved in both attacks.

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HAMAS Responds by
Deploying Militants
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4. (C) In response to the escalating violence, Interior
Minister Said Siam announced on May 17 that he had decided to
deploy in Gaza the recently formed Special Security Force,
composed of militants from several factions and led by PRC
leader Jamal Abu Samhadaneh (ref B). Asked by reporters if
he had coordinated the move with President Abbas, Siam
responded testily saying, "Everything we do is coordinated
with the President.8 Siam added that the move was necessary
because the PA security forces were failing to fulfill their
responsibilities. Fatah PLC leader Azzam al-Ahmad denounced
the move as "dangerous and illegal" during an interview with
Voice of Palestine radio.


5. (C) Several ConGen contacts confirmed that the Special
Security Force -- carloads of masked gunmen affiliated with
the PRC and HAMAS, military wing -- were patrolling areas of
Gaza City and northern Gaza on May 17. Gaza-based UN OCHA
official Hamada Bihari said that tensions are high throughout
Gaza, commenting that HAMAS had used its militias this way in
the past following clashes with Fatah. The "only difference
is now they are the in the PA.8 Bihari predicted further
violence and said the situation could escalate "beyond
control" if the HAMAS-led Special Security Force moves
against PSO buildings or training facilities used by Fatah
militants.

WALLES