MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM JULY 24 SITREP

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 003129 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE OPS PLEASE PASS TO SECRETARY'S PARTY E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL IS SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM JULY 24 SITREP Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) There continued to be isolated incidents of violence in Gaza July 23-24, with reports of three Palestinian fatalities. The IDF arrested 20 Palestinians in the West Bank on July 24. 11 Qassams were launched from Gaza into Israel on July 23, and an additional three were launched on July 24. A senior Hamas official denied that the July 22 Palestinian factions meeting in Gaza had reached agreement on a cease-fire, but a ConGen Fatah contact noted that progress is being made toward the conclusion of one. The Rafah and Karni/al-Mintar crossings are closed July 24, but the Nahal Oz fuel transfer point is operational. All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into Gaza are operational July 24. -------------- MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Isolated incidents of violence continued in Gaza on July 23-24. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) claimed responsibility for the July 23 firing of an anti-tank rocket at an IDF outpost near the Erez Crossing. No injuries were reported. On July 24, an Israeli Air Force helicopter fired a missile at a two-story house at the entrance to the Shati refugee camp near Gaza City. Israeli press reports stated that the house was a storage facility for Hamas and PIJ weapons. Three Palestinians living in the house next door were injured in the attack. In a separate incident, the Israeli media reported that an IDF tank shell exploded next to a small hospital in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya later on the morning of July 24. There were no reports of injuries in that explosion. Sources in the President's Office reported that three Palestinians in the Nada housing project in northern Beit Lahiya were killed by an Israeli tank shell on July 24. The sources told ConGen FSN political specialist that the IDF has since instructed people living in the project to evacuate their homes. ¶3. (SBU) IDF arrest operations continued in the West Bank on July 24. Israeli media reported that the IDF arrested 20 Palestinians in early morning raids in Bethlehem, Hebron, Tarkumiya, and Ramallah. ¶4. (SBU) At least 11 Qassams were fired on July 23 from northern Gaza into the western Negev and Sderot. Three Qassams were fired from northern Gaza on July 24, two of which landed near Sderot and one landed south of Ashkelon. There was no reported damage or injuries. -------------- POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶5. (C) Usama Muzaini, a senior Hamas official and member of Hamas' political bureau, said in media remarks on July 23 that Hamas is still conditioning the release of the captured Israeli soldier on a simultaneous release of Palestinian prisoners. Muzaini also denied reports that there was a cease-fire agreement concluded during President Abbas' July 22 meeting with Palestinian political factions in Gaza. Muzaini stated a cessation of Qassam rockets would occur in exchange for an end to Israeli military operations and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Muzaini also said that Hamas is still debating whether to separate the issue of the soldier captured in Gaza from the kidnapped IDF soldiers in Lebanon. Fatah activist Ibrahim abu al-Naja told ConGen FSN political specialist that progress had been made toward renewing the cease-fire, and that Hamas is being pressured to hand over the captured Israeli soldier to the Egyptians in exchange for an Israeli commitment to release Palestinian minors, women, and prisoners serving long terms. ¶6. (SBU) The National and Islamic Factions (NIF) and the Public Committee of Families of Prisoners called for a strike and demonstrations to be held on July 25 during the visit of Secretary Rice to Ramallah. A leaflet was released on July SIPDIS 23 in which the NIF criticized the visit and described US foreign policy as biased towards Israel. -------------- HUMANITARIAN UPDATE -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The Rafah passenger crossing is closed July 24. The Karni/al-Mintar crossing is closed, as of 1100 local on July 24, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. It was last open July 20 when 220 truckloads entered Gaza. The Nahal Oz fuel transfer station is operational July 24. ¶8. (SBU) All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into Gaza are operational July 24. Since these ten lines only meet 50 percent of Gaza's total demand, electricity is rotated every eight hours between two zones in each governorate. WALLES