MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM AUGUST 23 SITREP

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 003800

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 23 SITREP



1. (SBU) Summary. IDF shelling August 22 targeted
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) members, killing three near
Khan Younis while injuring another seven Palestinians. One
IDF soldier sustained injuries from an anti-tank rocket in
the northern Gaza Strip. An Israeli operation into the
Shijayah neighborhood of Gaza City overnight August 22-23
resulted in the arrest of five Hamas members and the
confiscation of a weapons cache. Three Palestinians and one
IDF soldier were injured during the exchange of gunfire.
Palestinian militants overnight fired one rocket from
northern Gaza toward the Western Negev, but there were no
reported injuries or property damage. In the West Bank, IDF
units overnight arrested 11 Palestinians. Israeli security
forces went into high alert August 23 amid reports of a
suicide bomber seeking to enter Jerusalem. The Rafah and
Karni/al-Mintar crossings are closed on August 23, but the
Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing is open. End summary.

Military Developments
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2. (SBU) IDF shelling in the vicinity of Khan Younis on
August 22 killed three PIJ members, while injuring another
seven Palestinians. One IDF soldier sustained light wounds
in northern Gaza when an anti-tank rocket struck an IDF
outpost. The PFLP and the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed
responsibility for the attack. An Israeli operation into the
Shijayah neighborhood in Gaza City overnight August 22-23
resulted in the arrest of five Hamas members and the
confiscation of ammunition, pistols, machine guns, and hand
grenades. One IDF soldier and three Palestinian gunmen were
injured in the exchange of gunfire. Palestinian militants
overnight fired one Qassam rocket from northern Gaza toward
the Western Negev, resulting in no injuries or property
damage. The IDF August 22-23 arrested 11 Palestinians in
several localities in the West Bank.


3. (SBU) Israeli security forces issued a high alert
August 23 for a possible suicide bomb attack in Jerusalem.
The IDF and Israeli police set up flying checkpoints on main
roads and arteries heading into Jerusalem, snarling traffic
for the morning rush hours. Yesha Council spokeswoman Emily
Amrusi told ConGen Poloff that the IDF had instructed
settlers located in settlements between Ramallah and
Jerusalem to remain off the roads past 0800L to allow the IDF
to check Palestinian vehicles. The security forces canceled
the alert during the hours of 0930-1200L, but resumed the
alert at 1230-1400L. There are still some flying checkpoints
in the West Bank searching vehicles as of 1630L.

Humanitarian Update
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4. (SBU) The Rafah crossing is closed August 23, according
to USAID Gaza-based staff. Rafah was last open August 19.


5. (SBU) The Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing is closed
August 23, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. The crossing
was last open August 15.


6. (SBU) The Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing is open
August 23, as it was during the afternoon of August 22,
according to USAID Gaza-based staff.


7. (SBU) All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into
Gaza are operational August 23, according to USAID Gaza-based
staff.

WALLES