GAZA MILITANTS ABDUCT ISRAELI SOLDIER

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002650 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2016 TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL PGOV PTER IS SUBJECT: GAZA MILITANTS ABDUCT ISRAELI SOLDIER Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Popular Resistance Committee (PRC) and HAMAS militants staged a brazen raid on an IDF outpost on the Israeli side of the Gaza border June 25, killing two soldiers and abducting a third. President Abbas (Abu Mazen) issued a statement denouncing the attack as a violation of the "understandings" between Palestinian factions. Representatives of HAMAS praised the attack, while government spokesmen called for the factions not to harm the soldier. PA security contacts privately criticized the attack as provocative and commented that the raid may signal a turn by some Gaza militants to tactics and strategy associated with Lebanese Hizballah. END SUMMARY. -------------- HAMAS and PRC Militants Stage Attack in Israel -------------- ¶2. (SBU) HAMAS' military wing and PRC factions associated with deceased militant leader Jamal Abu Samhadanah attacked an IDF outpost on the Israeli side of the Gaza border at 0530L on June 25. Media sources reported that a group of 8 militants crossed into Israel using an 800 meter tunnel. Working in three teams armed with assault rifles and RPGs, the militants attacked a guard tower, tank, and an empty armored personnel carrier. The gunmen killed two soldiers and abducted a third before fleeing back into Gaza by detonating a hole in the border fence. Media sources reported that the abducted soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, was moderately injured in the attack, and holds a French passport in addition to Israeli citizenship. -------------- Abu Mazen Criticizes Attack -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Abu Mazen's Gaza office released a statement criticizing the June 25 attack as a "violation of the understandings reached between all the Palestinian factions." The statement criticized HAMAS for carrying out an operation against Israel despite a reported commitment to return to a ceasfire: "Our nation has a right to ask whether the perpetrators of this operation represent themselves or a faction that has committed to respecting the ceasefire?" Abu Mazen's statement called on the international community and the Quartet to intervene. Israeli and Palestinian media sources reported that security forces loyal to Abu Mazen are working to secure Shalit's release. -------------- HAMAS and PA Government Make Conflicting Statements Regarding Soldier Abduction -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Cabinet spokesmen and HAMAS representatives put out divergent messages regarding the June 25 attack. HAMAS Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri praised the attack during a June 25 interview with al-Jazeera satellite network, describing it as "a natural response to the enemy's crimes against women and children" and a "fulfillment of our duty to Huha Ghalia." (NOTE: Ghalia's family was killed in a June 9 explosion on a Beit Layha beach. Most Palestinians blame IDF shelling for the deaths. END NOTE.) ¶5. (SBU ) In contrast, PA government spokesman Ghazi al-Hamad called upon the factions that kidnapped Shalit not to harm him and promised to take action "as soon as we get information." During a June 25 press conference at Abu Mazen's office in Ramallah, West Bank-based Deputy PM Nasir al-Sha'ir called on Shalit's abductors to preserve his life, treat him well, and immediately release him. PM Haniyyah has not made a public statement. -------------- A Turn Towards Hizballah Tactics? -------------- ¶6. (C) During June 26 conversations with ConGen officers, Presidential Guard sources criticized the attack as "provocative" and "counterproductive" and described it as evidence of the desire of some militant groups to imitate Hizballah tactics and strategy. Presidential Guard COL Mahmud Issa commented to POL FSN during a June 26 telcon, "This is not Lebanon and these types of attacks will only cause more bloodshed." Issa added that the carefully planned attack reminded him of Hizballah's tactics and speculated that the level of planning, technical competence and the length of the tunnel indicated that the PRC and HAMAS militants must have been preparing for several months. WALLES