MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - JERUSALEM JULY

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002902 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2016 TAGS: PREL ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG PHUM SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - JERUSALEM JULY 13 SITREP Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) IDF military action in Gaza continued on July 12-13, although news coverage was overshadowed by the developing situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border. PA sources list 26 Palestinians killed on July 12, including the family that died in the IDF attack that reportedly wounded Hamas military wing leader Mohammed Deif. PA Health Ministry officials released a statement claiming that some 85 Palestinians have died as a result of IDF military action since the kidnapping of IDF corporal Galid Shalit on June 25. The office of President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) released a statement on July 12 expressing concern about the regional situation and Presidential Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudainah urged the international community and the Quartet to intervene. In a meeting with hundreds of Fatah activists in Ramallah, Abu Mazen rebuked those who cheered the capture by Hizballah of two additional IDF soldiers, and instead advocated negotiations regarding the issue of Palestinian prisoners. Post has submitted the names of 160 additional American citizens requesting assistance in leaving Gaza. Karni and the Nahal Oz fuel transfer point are open; other crossing points remain closed. -------------- Military Developments -------------- ¶2. (SBU) IDF raids continued in Gaza July 12-13, including an airstrike that severely damaged the Palestinian Foreign Ministry building. PA sources say that at least 26 Palestinians were killed as a result of Israeli military activity on July 12, including 9 members of the Abu Slimeh family who died in an attack that reportedly injured Hamas military wing leader Mohammed Deif. Later on July 12, at least 8 other Palestinians were reported killed as a result of IDF activity in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. ¶3. (SBU) IDF deployments in Gaza are unclear; it appears the incursion south of Deir al-Balah on July 12 that effectively split Gaza into two has been withdrawn, but that IDF forces remain in the central areas around Kissufim and Abu Houli, which have been declared a closed military zone. IDF forces have reportedly withdrawn from the south. ¶4. (SBU) At least 5 Qassam rockets were fired toward southern Israel during the evening of July 12; no damage or injuries were reported. ¶5. (SBU) PA Health Ministry officials claimed on July 12 that approximately 85 Palestinians have been killed since the kidnapping of IDF corporal Galid Shalit on June 25. Naem al-Saqa, a spokesperson for the Ministry, claimed that some 34 of those killed were below the age of 18. ¶6. (C) In response to attacks on Israel's border with Lebanon that left eight IDF soldiers dead and two captured, the Israeli police have raised the overall alert level. Post held an Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting on July 12 to review the security situation (septel). -------------- Political Developments -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The office of President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) released a statement on July 12 expressing concern over the security situation and warning against the consequences of widening the circle of violence. Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaineh urged the international community, and particularly the Quartet, to intervene and end the ongoing escalation. ¶8. (C) Abu Mazen addressed hundreds of Fatah activists in Ramallah on July 12, informing them of his decision to suspend a referendum on the Prisoners' Document and to review ways to disburse USD 50 million in Arab League funds he had recently received. During the session, the news of the Israeli/Hizballah confrontation and the capture of two IDF soldiers became known, and some Fatah members began to applaud. Abu Mazen reportedly rebuked them, saying "The situation is difficult. It seems that the issue of the soldier and the two soldiers you just clapped your hands for is the problem ... I am not calling for simultaneous release (of Israeli soldiers and Palestinian prisoners) .... I nevertheless call on endorsing seriousness to release one thousand, two thousand, or the people who have served 20 years, the women, the children, the ill prisoners." (further details septel). ¶9. (C) PLO Envoys in Damascus Taysir Khaled and Abdullah Hourani reportedly met with Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Shara. PA sources told political specialist that Shara told the envoys that Syria has no role to play in mediation or in pressuring Hamas. The envoys remain in Damascus; post will report septel on their mission when they return. ¶10. (SBU) Palestinian civilians, gunmen, and prisoners' families in Gaza and several parts of the West Bank expressed optimism that the July 12 Hizballah attack along the Lebanese border and subsequent capture of two IDF soldiers would hasten the release of Palestinian prisoners. In scenes resembling those reported from south Lebanon, there were reports of Palestinian activists distributing sweets in parts of Gaza, as well as in Nablus and Jenin. -------------- AMCIT Update -------------- ¶11. (C) Post has submitted the names of 160 American citizens who have requested assistance in leaving Gaza. The next movement of American citizens from Gaza will occur once the GOI has vetted the names. -------------- Humanitarian Update -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Crossings: The Kerem Shalom and Sufa crossings remain closed. The Rafah passenger crossing remains closed. The Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing is open as of 1500 local, July 13. It opened July 12 and processed 89 inbound truckloads, including: -- 555 tons of wheatflour/wheat equivalent; -- 543 tons of sugar; 96 tons of rice; -- 98 tons of cooking oil; -- 308 tons of animal feed; -- 16 truckloads of fruits and vegetables; -- 1 truckload of dairy products; -- 3 truckloads of medical supplies; and -- 16 containers for UNRWA and WFP. In addition, a number of truckloads also transited the Erez crossing July 12 containing humanitarian assistance. ¶13. (SBU) The Nahal Oz fuel transfer station is operational on July 13. USAID Gaza-based field staff reported the following amounts of fuel were delivered into Gaza July 12: -- 900,000 liters of diesel (500,000 of which was imported during the night of July 11); -- 100,000 liters of gasoline; and -- 168 tons of cooking gas. ¶14. (SBU) Electricity: According to USAID Gaza-based field staff, 9 of the ten medium-tension electricity feeder lines into Gaza are operational. Only one of the two lines serving Khan Younis remains damaged. WALLES