VIOLENT CLASHES CONTINUE IN GAZA

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002299

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2016
TAGS: PREL ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: VIOLENT CLASHES CONTINUE IN GAZA

REF: JERUSALEM 02244

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Sporadic clashes between Hamas and
Fatah-affiliated forces continued throughout the Gaza strip
on June 6 and 7. Two Preventive Security Organization (PSO)
members (and three construction workers) were injured June 5
as a result of an attack on PSO headquarters in Gaza City. A
member of the Hamas military wing was shot and injured, and
four Fatah supporters were arrested in a clash in Gaza City.
Five Qassam rockets were fired into Israel, causing two
injuries. Meanwhile, tension remains elevated as Ministry of
Interior (MOI) Special Security Forces (SSF) and regular
Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) remained
deployed throughout Gaza. END SUMMARY.

--------------
FIVE INJURED IN ATTACK ON PSO HQ
--------------


2. (C) Five people, including two PSO members, were injured
in an attack on the PSO headquarters in Gaza City on June 6.
One of the PSO members remains in serious condition. Initial
press reports indicated that three rocket-propelled grenades
were launched into the headquarters from an adjacent building
in Gaza City. A PSO official announced June 7 that the
injuries actually resulted from a 60-mm mortar attack. A
Fatah spokesman, Maher Miqada, has blamed Hamas for the
attack.

--------------
FATAH AND HAMAS CLASH IN GAZA CITY
--------------


3. (C) A member of Izedeen Al Qassam,the Hamas military
wing, was shot and injured while driving his car in Gaza City
on June 6. The Hamas-affiliated SSF subsequently engaged PSO
and Fatah gunmen in a gun battle. No one was injured in this
clash, but the SSF arrested three of the Fatah gunmen and one
of the PSO members. Izedeen Al Qassam issued a statement
saying that they believe the men they arrested were
responsible for the earlier ambush. The arrested gunmen are
being held by the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Interior.
Fatah representatives attending a meeting with Hamas
representatives on June 7 demanded the release of the
arrested men.

--------------
QASSAM ATTACK
--------------


4. (C) Five Qassam rockets were fired into the Israeli town
of Sderot on the morning of June 6. They caused two slight
injuries and damage to some property. The Popular Resistance
Committees (PRC) claimed responsiblity. Media reports
indicate that the IDF believes that Hamas is linked to the
attack.


--------------
SPECIAL SECURITY FORCE STILL DEPLOYED IN GAZA
--------------


5. (C) According to Fatah sources, the SSF is extensively
deployed throughout Gaza on June 7. They say that SSF mobile
patrols are moving throughout Gaza City, while other SSF
officers are stationed at the intersections and city squares.
The SSF, according to Fatah sources, is also deployed in the
refugee camps in central Gaza, in Khan Younis, and in Rafah.
These same sources said that Hamas has provided the SSF with
6000 blue uniforms, indistinguishable from those worn by the
civil police special units. They estimate that 15-20% of the
SSF is wearing the new uniforms. A Canadian official
detailed to the United States Security Coordinator (USSC)
team visited Gaza on June 5, however, and noted that he did
not see a widespread SSF presence, and that none of the SSF
forces he saw were wearing civil police-style uniforms. The
USSC team reported that the SSF deployment seems to be
concentrated the neighborhoods controlled by Hamas. The team
also noted that the police and National Security Forces (NSF)
were out in force and highly visible.
WALLES