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).


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Summary
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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.

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Military Moves
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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.

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Kidnapping Update
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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

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Political Developments
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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.

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AMCIT Status
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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.

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Infrastructure Update
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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