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