MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM AUGUST 25 SITREP

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 003839 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 25 SITREP ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The Rafah crossing opened August 25 allowing thousands of Palestinians to transit from the Egypt and Gaza sides of the crossing. Israeli aircraft conducted air strikes in Gaza City and the Jabaliya overnight August 24-25, injuring eight Palestinians. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) claimed responsibility for firing rockets the evening of August 24 from northern Gaza toward the Western Negev and Sderot, but there were no reported injuries or property damage. In the West Bank, IDF units overnight arrested six Palestinians. The IDF also arrested the Hamas mayor of Beit Ummar near Hebron. The Karni/al-Mintar crossing is closed on August 25, but the Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing is open. End summary. Military Developments -------------- ¶2. (SBU) According to ConGen sources in the Presidential Guards and the PA Crossing Authority, the Rafah crossing opened the morning of August 25 to allow passage for more than 6,000 Palestinians awaiting transit on the Egypt and Gaza sides of the crossing. As of 1600L, at least 34 buses transporting 3,170 passengers had crossed from Gaza into Egypt, while 22 buses transporting 1,750 passengers had crossed from Egypt into Gaza. Also as of 1600L, approximately 1,200 people on the Gaza side are still attempting to cross into Egypt, with approximately 400 seeking passage into Gaza from Egypt. Discussions are ongoing to extend the operating hours to enable the remaining people to cross. ¶3. (SBU) Israeli aircraft overnight August 24-25 struck houses in Gaza City and Jabaliya reportedly used to store weapons, injuring at least eight Palestinians. PIJ claimed responsibility for firing two rockets from northern Gaza towards the Western Negev and Sderot. There were no reported injuries or property damage. ¶4. (SBU) In the West Bank, IDF units exchanged gunfire with Palestinian gunmen in Jenin on the evening of August 24. There were no reported injuries. The IDF overnight August 24-25 arrested six Palestinians, including five PIJ members in Ramallah and Jenin and a PFLP member in Nablus. The IDF arrested the Hamas mayor of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. Humanitarian Update -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing is closed August 25, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. The crossing was last open on August 15. The Sufa crossing is open on August 25, for the third day for commodity imports, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. On the first day it was open, August 23, 60 truckloads of food products were imported through Sufa over a nine-hour period. The Erez crossing is open on August 25 for commodity imports for the second day in a row, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. The Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing is open August 25, according to USAID Gaza-based staff, as it was August 24. ¶6. (SBU) All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into Gaza are operational August 25, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. WALLES