MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - JERUSALEM JULY 1

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002772 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2016 TAGS: PREL ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG PHUM SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - JERUSALEM JULY 1 NOON SITREP Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The last 24 hours have been relatively quiet in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. IDF airstrikes and shelling in the West Bank and Gaza and Palestinian mortar and rocket attacks into Israel continue, but there have been no reported injuries. The manager of the Gaza power plant told Econ Chief that the main access roads to the power plant were struck at 0130 on July 1 and rendered impassable. The groups associated with the kidnapping of IDF corporal Gilad Shalit reiterated their demand that Palestinian women and children prisoners be released, and also called for the release of 1,000 prisoners to include factional leaders, those serving lengthy sentences, and the sick; the GOI has reportedly rejected the demands. Israeli press reports cite a Palestinian doctor who visited Shalit, describing the corporal as alive and in good condition. The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades released detailed information on another Israeli soldier they claim to have kidnapped in the West Bank; the IDF rejected the claim, saying they had accounted for the individual. The number of American citizens requesting assistance in leaving Gaza is now 97; a response from the GOI on passage out of the Erez crossing point remains pending. -------------- Military Developments -------------- ¶2. (C) The security situation in Gaza was quieter over the last 24 hours, compared to previous days. The IAF reportedly conducted strikes against an empty Izzadin Al Qassam Brigades training area and an Abu Al Rish training facility near Khan Younis and Popular Resistance Committee training area near Rafah. There are also reports of IAF strikes against 3 to 7 roads in central Gaza. The manager of the Gaza Power Plant reports that the IAF struck the access roads around the power plant at approximately 0130 on July 1. He told Econ Chief there is now an 8x5 meter crater in the main access road, and craters in another access road from the sea that make that road impassable, and other damage. Press accounts report the IDF firing 370 shells into Gaza over the last 24 hours. No injuries have been reported as a result of these actions. ¶3. (SBU) Palestinian militants reportedly fired three mortar shells and one Qassam rocket towards Sderot and the western Negev. No damage or injuries were reported. -------------- Kidnapping Update -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The three groups associated with the kidnapping of IDF corporal Gilad Shalit released a statement on July 1 reiterating their earlier demands for the release of jailed Palestinian women and children in exchange for information on Shalit, and added a new demand: the release of 1,000 "Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim" prisoners. The demand further specified the groups wanted the release of factional leaders, prisoners with long sentences, and sick prisoners. Israeli press accounts quote the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman saying there will be no deals for Shalit's release. ¶5. (SBU) According to Israeli press reports, a Palestinian doctor visited Shalit on June 30 and said his condition was "good," with wounds to the stomach and shoulder. ¶6. (SBU) The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades released a statement late on June 30 claiming to have kidnapped an Israeli soldier in the West Bank: Hayman Kifr Shmu'el, born 24 August 1982, resident of Holon, with Israeli identity card 062866256. The IDF has released a statement denying the claim, saying that the documents belong to an Israeli citizen who has been accounted for. -------------- AMCIT Update -------------- ¶7. (C) The number of American citizens requesting assistance to depart Gaza has risen to 97, along with at least 4 US Legal Permanent Residents. Post is working with the GOI; a response from COGATT regarding passage via the Erez crossing point is expected on July 2. -------------- Next SITREP -------------- ¶8. (U) Unless warranted by unanticipated events, Jerusalem's next SITREP will be issued on July 2. WALLES