MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - JERUSALEM JUNE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002726 SIPDIS SIPDIS OPS CENTER: PLEASE PASS TO SECRETARY'S PARTY. NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016 TAGS: PREL ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - JERUSALEM JUNE 29 NOON SITREP Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Israeli military forces have reportedly expanded their foothold in southern Gaza and moved into northern Gaza. At least four Qassam rockets were launched at an Israeli town, and IDF naval and air forces have shelled Qassam rocket launch areas. The remains of missing settler Eliyahu Asher were found near Ramallah the evening of June 28. There is no additional information on missing IDF corporal Galid Shalit, and there are unconfirmed press reports of another missing Israeli citizen. Palestinian calls continue for a prisoner exchange. Israeli security forces arrested at least 87 senior Hamas officials, including 8 cabinet ministers, 29 Hamas PLC members, and the PLC speaker. The Consular Section continues to reach out to American citizens in Gaza, advising them to leave; so far, 32 American citizens have expressed interest, and we are working with Embassy Tel Aviv to facilitate their departure. There are reports of electricity shortages affecting 750,000 Palestinians as a result of the IDF strike against Gaza power facilities. The Egyptian Consulate General in Gaza has been the target of demonstrations by Palestinians accusing the GOE of collaborating with Israel; the Egyptians are withdrawing their diplomatic family members. -------------- Israeli Military Moves -------------- ¶2. (C) IDF forces in southern Gaza reportedly expanded their positions north near the Sufa crossing and have taken control of the crossing point. There are reports of IAF aircraft dropping leaflets in northern Gaza, warning residents not to enter areas from where Qassam rockets are being launched. At least four Qassams were launched at the Israeli town of Sderot the evening of June 28, and an al-Aqsa spokesman claimed that his group launched a Qassam with a chemical warhead. There has been no confirmation of a chemical weapon attack; Israeli land and naval forces reportedly shelled northern Gaza Qassam launch areas. The IDF reportedly shelled two Hamas military training facilities in Rafah and Khan Younis, as well as a facility used by Islamic University in Khan Younis. No injuries were reported as a result of these shellings. ¶3. (C) IDF armored vehicles have reportedly taken position in northern Gaza, opposite Beit Hanoun and there continue to be unconfirmed reports of Israeli ground forces moving into the northern Gaza Strip. IAF aircraft continue to cause sonic booms in Gaza. -------------- Kidnapping Update -------------- ¶4. (C) The remains of Eliyahu Asher, an Israeli settler abducted during the evening of June 25, were found outside Ramallah on the evening of June 28. Israeli press reports that Popular Resistance Committee (PRC) operative Osam Abu Rijal was arrested on June 28 and led Israeli forces to Asher's body. There have been no updates on the whereabouts of missing IDF corporal Gilad Shalit. There are unconfirmed Israeli press reports of a third kidnapping of 60-year old Israeli citizen Noah Moskowitz from Rishon LeZion, a town south of Tel Aviv. The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades have claimed responsibility, but there has been no official Israeli confirmation. Israeli security forces have reportedly prevented Palestinians from using the main roads between Gush Etzion and Hebron in order to prevent further abductions of Israeli settlers. ¶5. (C) The PA Ministry of Information continued calls for a prisoner exchange with Israel to end the crisis. In a statement, the Ministry said it is "natural logic" to carry out an exchange: "this has been exercised by previous Israeli governments with Hizbullah and the PLO, and this is what other countries do in conflict situations." -------------- Hamas Arrests -------------- ¶6. (C) Israeli security forces conducted widespread arrest operations June 29 in the West Bank, detaining Hamas ministers, Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members, and activists. At least 87 senior Hamas officials are in custody, including 8 cabinet ministers, 29 Hamas PLC members, and the PLC speaker. Septel will provide more details on the Hamas arrests and their consequences; PA Information Minister Yousef Rizqa, speaking from Gaza, charged that arresting democratically elected leadership was a "blatant violation of all democratic principles." -------------- AMCIT Update -------------- 7.(C) The Consular Section continues its outreach to American citizens in Gaza; our very rough estimate is that there are up to 500 US citizens in Gaza, most of whom are dual American-Palestinian nationals. We have re-emphasized our long-standing recommendation, via phone calls and the warden network, that American citizens should leave Gaza immediately. Approximately 32 American citizens have expressed interest in leaving Gaza, and we are working with Embassy Tel Aviv to facilitate their departure. A number of these travelers who entered Gaza via the now-closed Rafah crossing with Egypt will likely encounter difficulty attempting to depart via Israel's Ben Gurion airport, and will instead probably have to depart the area from Amman after crossing the Allenby Bridge. -------------- Infrastructure Damage Effects -------------- ¶8. (C) Palestinian contacts report electricity shortages as a result of the June 27 Israeli strikes on the Gaza Power Plant; some 750,000 Palestinians are said to be affected. Consulate contacts report that an electricity rationing program has been placed in effect. Septel will provide more details regarding the infrastructure situation. -------------- Egyptian Drawdown -------------- ¶9. (C) According to the Egyptian Consul General, two demonstrations took place in front of the Egyptian diplomatic facilities in Gaza on June 28. He said that Palestinians displayed signs accusing the Egyptians of collaborating with the Israelis, and said that the GOE would evacuate Egyptian diplomatic family members from Gaza on June 29. WALLES