Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM2772
2006-07-01 11:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - JERUSALEM JULY 1
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHJM #2772/01 1821108 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 011108Z JUL 06 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3171 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
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
-------
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
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