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).


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Summary
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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.

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Military Developments
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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split Gaza into two has been withdrawn, but that IDF forces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).

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Political Developments
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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.

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AMCIT Update
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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.

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Humanitarian Update
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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