MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM AUGUST 16 SITREP

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 003625 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 16 SITREP REF: JERUSALEM 03616 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Israeli aircraft overnight August 15-16 fired rockets into the home of a suspected al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member in Khan Younis, killing two Palestinians and injuring at least three others. A Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) member was killed during clashes between PIJ gunmen and the IDF in Abassan, east of Khan Younis. IDF tanks and bulldozers conducted clearing operations in northern Gaza. Palestinian militants fired at least two rockets from northern Gaza toward Sderot, but there were no reported injuries or property damage. In the West Bank, IDF units overnight arrested eight Palestinians. The Rafah and Karni/al-Mintar crossings are closed on August 15, but the Nahal Oz crossing is open. End summary. Military Developments -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Israeli aircraft overnight August 15-16 fired rockets at the home of a suspected al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member in Khan Younis, killing two Palestinians and injuring at least three others. The IDF claimed the house was used by al-Aqsa to store weapons. In Abassan, east of Khan Younis, IDF units clashed with PIJ gunmen, killing one and arresting one other. In northern Gaza, Israeli tanks and bulldozers conducted land clearing operations, but no injuries were reported. Palestinian militants fired two rockets from northern Gaza toward Sderot, resulting in no injuries or property damage. Both al-Aqsa and the DFLP claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. ¶3. (SBU) In the West Bank, Palestinians conducted attacks in the northern West Bank, throwing stones at Israeli vehicles and a firebomb at an Israeli bus traveling near Nablus. Palestinians also threw explosive charges at Israeli soldiers attempting to conduct arrests in Qabatiyah village near Jenin. There were no reported injuries. The IDF arrested at least eight Palestinians in overnight arrest operations in the Ramallah and Bethlehem areas. An additional two Palestinians were arrested on August 16 in the northern West Bank as they attempted to plant an explosive device near the separation barrier. Humanitarian Update -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Rafah crossing is closed August 16, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. Rafah was last open August 11. ¶5. (SBU) The Karni/al-Mintar crossing is closed August 16 for essential maintenance and electrical installation work on the Israeli side, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. The Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing is open August 16. ¶6. (SBU) All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into Gaza are operational August 16, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. ¶7. (SBU) Reftel is a separate sitrep covering the kidnapping of the two Fox journalists. DUFFY