MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - JERUSALEM JUNE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002762 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: 06/30/2016 TAGS: PREL ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG PHUM SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - JERUSALEM JUNE 30 NOON SITREP REF: A. JERUSALEM 2749 ¶B. JERUSALEM 2754 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Airstrikes in Gaza and shelling of open areas continue; IDF forces have conducted a number of raids in the West Bank. IDF ground forces have reportedly not entered northern Gaza. PA sources say that the breach blown in the Gaza/Egypt border wall has been repaired. There has been intense speculation about Egyptian President Mubarak's facilitative role, and a report that Khalid Mishal will send a high-level envoy to Cairo on July 1 in response to a "summons" from the Egyptians. Comments by Fatah PLC bloc-leader Azam al-Ahmad about President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) using the current crisis to create an emergency government were roundly condemned by both Hamas and Fatah officials. Rallies in support of arrested Hamas officials and prisoners are occurring all over the West Bank and Gaza. The number of American citizens requesting assistance in leaving Gaza has risen to 87. Another power transformer was damaged on June 29; there are conflicting reports of responsibility. Low stocks of diesel fuel are of rising concern. EU Special Envoy Marc Otte, in the region, will attempt to meet with Abu Mazen in Gaza at 1800 local time. -------------- Military Moves -------------- ¶2. (C) IDF ground forces have reportedly not entered northern Gaza, and others remain in place in southern Gaza. The IAF conducted at least 18 airstrikes, in addition to estimates of 500 artillery shells fired into open areas. PA sources reported, but the IDF denied, an IDF ground incursion near Jabiliya in north Gaza. IAF aircraft are reported to have struck the Palestinian Interior Ministry building in Gaza, and the IDF apparently struck a Fatah office and Hamas training camp in Gaza City. ¶3. (C) In the West Bank, IDF raids have occurred in major cities, and there are reports of exchanges of fire in Nablus. The IDF reportedly raided Hamas-run societies in Bethlehem, Ramallah, Tulkarem, Nablus, and Jenin. ¶4. (C) Palestinian militants detonated a mine against the Gaza/Egypt border wall on June 29, opening up two breaches. PA sources denied reports that gunmen were able to cross the borders and stressed that the breaches were sealed immediately. Palestinian security personnel reportedly formed a human cordon to prevent people from leaving through the hole, and Egyptian soldiers are reported to have deployed on the Egyptian side to prevent trespassing. ¶5. (C) Six Qassam rockets were fired from the Gaza strip toward the western Negev and the Israeli town of Sderot; no casualties were reported. -------------- Kidnapping Update -------------- ¶6. (C) There have been no developments regarding the whereabouts of missing IDF corporal Galid Shalit. Local press contains much speculation about the facilitative role being played by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Press reports are also paying close attention to remarks made by Israel Major General Yair Naveh, the officer commanding Israel's Central Command, in which he said recently arrested Hamas members might be released if Shalit is returned. ¶7. (C) Palestinian political contacts report that Hamas Damascus-based Political Bureau Chief Khalid Mishal has been "summoned" by the Egyptians to Cairo to defuse the crisis. Mishal has reportedly demurred, citing security concerns, but has allegedly agreed to send an envoy to Cairo on July 1. Palestinian speculation is that the Egyptians are attempting to mediate a prisoner exchange, perhaps prolonged over several stages as to avoid perceptions of linkage -------------- Political Developments -------------- ¶8. (C) There were a number of intra-Palestinian developments regarding the internal political situation; fuller analysis septel. PA Information Minister Yousef Rizqa stressed that the Hamas-led government would not resign in reaction to large scale Israeli arrests of Hamas officials (details in ref (a)). Rizqa said the Hamas government had a number of back-up plans, and Fatah sources told political specialist that Hamas is considering having some ministers double-cover ministries or having undersecretaries and directors general move up to take the place of arrested ministers. ¶9. (C) Palestinian factions appear to be coalescing in reaction to the Hamas arrests and the idea that the Israelis are using the arrests to attempt to negate the January PLC elections. Fatah PLC bloc head Azam al-Ahmad ignited a small political firestorm by speculating that the arrests could pave the way for the formation of a new government. Ahmad had said that President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) should declare a state of emergency and form an emergency cabinet and that the PLC should not hold any sessions while PLC members were in Israeli custody. Ahmad was set upon by both Fatah and Hamas officials, and later went on "al-Jazeera" to clarify and deny some of his remarks. ¶10. (C) Abu Mazen has reportedly formed an ad hoc crisis management group consisting of all Palestinian factions to deal with the crisis. The committee, which came about as a result of meetings between Abu Mazen and faction leaders, is to meet every day. ¶11. (C) The Hamas officials under arrest are reported to have started a hunger strike. Press accounts suggest that the GOI has decided to open criminal investigations on those arrested, in connection with their involvement in a terrorist organization. Senior Hamas leaders who have not been arrested have gone underground, and it now appears that neither the Deputy Prime Minister nor the PLC speaker were arrested by Israeli security forces. ¶12. (C) Rallies in support of the release of prisoners and the newly detained Hamas officials, some involving thousands of people, have occurred throughout the West Bank and Gaza on June 29 and June 30. In Ramallah on June 29, the subjects of the rally widened to include denunciations of the US and the EU; demonstrators specifically charged that the US position in the crisis was biased against the Palestinians. -------------- AMCIT Status -------------- ¶13. (C) The number of American citizens requesting assistance to leave the Gaza Strip has risen to at least 87. The Consular Section is working with the GOI on the issue. -------------- Infrastructure Update -------------- ¶14. (C) Electricity: One to two electrical transformers in the Beit Lahia area were damaged the evening of June 29. Initial reports indicated that IDF artillery shells were responsible. The damage apparently occurred in connection with the launching of Qassam rockets, and there are conflicting reports as to whether the damage was caused by IDF artillery or an errant Qassam. The IDF has denied hitting the transformer. USAID Gaza-based field staff said the two damaged transformers are near Erez and Israeli forces are not allowing the Palestinian power distribution company to make repairs. ¶15. (SBU) Diesel: As reported in ref (b),the low remaining levels of diesel fuel are the most critical concern. The Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator June 29 estimated that all public and private stocks of diesel in Gaza are expected to run out July 2 unless fuel supplies start flowing back into Gaza at Nahal Oz. Diesel-powered generators for the water and sanitation systems are of critical concern. Post understands that the GOI is aware of this problem and is taking steps to address it. WALLES