MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM AUGUST 15 SITREP

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 003611 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS, USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG PHUM SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM AUGUST 15 SITREP ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Israeli aircraft overnight August 14-15 fired rockets at a suspected Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) house in the Jabaliya refugee camp, injuring at least 10 Palestinians. The IDF continued operations in the vicinity of the Gaza airport, where clashes resulted in two Palestinian injuries. Palestinian militants fired four Qassam rockets from northern Gaza toward Israel, but there were no reported injuries or property damage. In the West Bank, IDF units entered the Askar refugee camp in Nablus and arrested six Fatah activists. The Rafah crossing remains closed on August 15, but the Karni/al-Mintar and Nahal Oz crossings are open. End summary. Military Developments -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Israeli aircraft overnight August 14-15 fired rockets at a home in the Jabaliya refugee camp, destroying the house while damaging three neighboring structures. At least 10 Palestinians were injured in the bombing. The IDF claimed the house was used as a command center by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Israeli shelling in Beit Hanoun injured four Palestinians. The IDF also continued operations near the Gaza airport, where Israeli units demolished six structures. Ensuing clashes resulted in two Palestinian injuries. The Hamas military wing claimed responsibility for detonating an explosive device that damaged an Israeli bulldozer near the airport. ¶3. (SBU) Palestinian militants have fired four Qassam rockets since the evening of August 14 from northern Gaza, resulting in no injuries or property damage. Militants also fired an anti-tank missile at IDF units near the Erez crossing, resulting in no casualties. ConGen contacts in the office of the PA president reported that the incident at Erez occurred approximately 10 minutes before President Abbas' convoy passed through the area. ¶4. (SBU) The PA Ministry of Health released a statement that, since the start of operation "Summer Rain" following the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit on June 25, over 190 Palestinians have been killed and more than 790 injured in the course of IDF operations. Among those killed were 58 Palestinians under the age of 18 and 25 Palestinian women. ¶5. (SBU) In the West Bank, the IDF on August 15 initiated a raid into the Askar refugee camp in Nablus, arresting six Fatah activists. During the operation, a 73-year-old Palestinian woman reportedly died from heart complications due to tear gas inhalation. The IDF arrested at least two others, including a Palestinian carrying a knife at the entrance to the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Palestinian militants also opened fire on IDF units operating in the northern West Bank on August 14. There were no reported injuries. Humanitarian Update -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The Rafah crossing is closed August 15, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. Rafah was last open August 11. ¶7. (SBU) The Karni/al-Mintar and Nahal Oz crossings are open August 15, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. USAID reported that between June 25 (the date of the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit) and August 15, Karni/al-Mintar has been open 26 of 45 normal working days, or 58 percent of the time. ¶8. (SBU) All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into Gaza are operational on August 15, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. DUFFY