INTENSE FATAH-HAMAS CLASHES; AT LEAST 9 KILLED IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002399

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016
TAGS: PREL ASEC KPAL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: INTENSE FATAH-HAMAS CLASHES; AT LEAST 9 KILLED IN
GAZA AIRSTRIKE

REF: JERUSALEM 02381

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Violent clashes between Fatah and Hamas
groups continued in Gaza on June 12, spreading to the West
Bank cities of Ramallah, Nablus and Salfit. Two people were
killed in Gaza as a result of these clashes. There were no
fatalities or major injuries in the West Bank incidents, but
damage was reported to the Palestinian Legislative Council
(PLC) and the Council of Ministers' buildings in Ramallah.
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmud Abbas ordered a
heightened security presence in Gaza to prevent further
clashes, and issued instructions banning the public display
of weapons in the Gaza Strip. Contrary to some press
reports, he did not order a "state of emergency." Nine
people were killed, including two children, in Gaza on June
13 as the result of an Israeli airstrike. END SUMMARY.


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HAMAS-PSO CLASH IN GAZA
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2. (C) A violent clash between the Ministry of Interior
(MOI) Special Security Force (SSF) and elements of the
Preventive Security Organization (PSO) erupted in Gaza during
the June 12 funeral of a Hamas activist (reftel). A Hamas
spokesman accused the PSO of opening fire on the mourners
and, as a result, of killing one Hamas member. Shortly
thereafter, Fatah sources reported that the SSF besieged the
PSO headquarters in Rafah, attacking the HQ with hand
grenades, rocket-propelled grenades, and other weapons. The
siege lasted two hours, killing one Palestinian civilian
(Sliman Zanon) and wounding 15 others. Three of the injured
were Hamas members, two were children, and the remainder were
PSO members.

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CLASHES SPREAD TO RAMALLAH
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3. (C) In the evening of June 12, elements from Force-17
and al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades took to the main intersections
of Ramallah and began shooting into the air. The gunmen then
attacked the Council of Ministers' offices, setting them on
fire and causing damage to the building and equipment inside.
Gunmen also attacked the PLC building, ransacking it and
setting fire to the third floor. No injuries were reported
in the incidents. Force-17 and PA police forces eventually
halted the attacks.


4. (C) On June 12, al-Aqsa members also attacked Hamas PLC
member from Hebron, Khalil al-Rabaai's office in Ramallah,
and physically assaulted him. Fatah-affiliated gunmen fired
at the PLC building in Nablus, though there was no reported
damage or injuries. Fatah-affiliated gunmen also attacked
and set fire to PLC offices in Salfit.

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ABBAS RAISES SECURITY LEVEL
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5. (C) In the midst of this escalating violence, PA
President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) issued instructions on
June 12 for all security forces to deploy in Gaza. After the
PSO-SSF clash in Rafah, sources in the president's office
told ConGen POL FSN that approximately 800 National Security
Forces, civil police, and presidential security, based on
instructions from Abbas, were deployed in the Khan Yunis and
Rafah areas of Gaza to prevent further clashes. Abbas has
also banned the display of weapons in public, including those
held by the SSF. Abu Mazen's Chief of Staff told Consul
General on June 13 that the President did not declare a
"state of emergency" as reported in some press accounts.

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AIR STRIKE KILLS 9 IN GAZA CITY
--------------


6. (C) On June 13, nine people were killed in Gaza city as
the result of an Israeli Air Force strike targeting a yellow
Volkswagen van in which Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
activists were traveling. The PIJ gunmen were reportedly
preparing to fire rockets at Israel. Media reports indicated
that two of the dead were children, and that at least 20
bystanders were also wounded. Dr. Muwaiya Hassanin, the head
of the Emergency Ward at the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza
confirmed to ConGen POL FSN that two paramedics, one nurse,

and one doctor were killed, and that two children were among
the dead. He said that he believed the Israelis fired two
rockets, and that the deaths of the health care workers
occured when they were trying to rescue the victims of the
first rocket. In a separate incident, Israeli media reported
that two PIJ members were killed and two others wounded in
Beit Lahiya in a suspected "work-accident."

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PA CABINET MEMBER RESIGNS
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7. (C) According to Fatah sources and senior officials in
the PA Bethlehem governor's office, PA Minister of Tourism
Joudeh Murqus resigned as a result of death threats against
him and his family. These sources state that on the night of
June 12-13, the Minister received phone calls warning him
that he and his son would be executed if he did not resign.
Shortly thereafter, dozens of Fatah gunmen fired shots at his
home in Bethlehem. Murqus then resigned, announcing his
decision to the media. On the morning of June 13, the
Governor of Bethlehem, Salah Tamari, visited Murqus at home
and encouraged him to withdraw his resignation. The Governor
reportedly promised to protect Murqus and his family, and has
ordered police to be stationed around the Minister's home and
office.

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DRIVE-BY SHOOTING IN WEST BANK
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8. (C) Local media reported on June 13, that an Israeli
security guard working in the West Bank between the Atarot
and Qalandia checkpoints (near Jerusalem) was shot and
lightly wounded in a drive-by shooting. There was no
immediate claim of responsibility.

WALLES