MGGZ01- JERUSALEM SEPTEMBER 1 SITREP

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 003965 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS; USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG SUBJECT: MGGZ01- JERUSALEM SEPTEMBER 1 SITREP ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: IDF troops withdrew from the Gaza City neighborhood of Shajayah on August 31, after a four-day incursion. Unknown gunmen kidnapped and later released a relative of HAMAS' Executive Force commander in Khan Younis on August 31. In a separate incident, Palestinian gunmen killed the head of the Popular Resistance Committee's military wing in al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza. Rafah and Karni/al-Mintar crossings were closed, while Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing was open on August 31-September 1. END SUMMARY Military Developments -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The IDF withdrew from the Shajayah neighborhood of Gaza City on August 31 after a four-day operation, in which 8 Palestinians were killed, including two civilians. ¶3. (SBU) Unknown gunmen kidnapped Osama Shahwan, who is a relative of the commander of HAMAS' Executive Force in Khan Younis, on the morning of August 31. An official from HAMAS' Executive Force told media that the kidnappers came from the al-Masri family, who were retaliating for the killing of one its relatives by the Executive Force. Shahwan was released the evening of August 31. ¶4. (SBU) In a separate incident on August 31, unknown gunmen killed Raed Nahal, the head of the Popular Resistance Committee (PRC) military wing in the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza. ¶5. (SBU) Ten Qassam rockets were launched from Gaza towards Sderot and the western Negev during August 31-September 1, but there were no reports of damage or injuries. The PIJ al-Quds Brigades claimed responsibility for launching eight of the rockets. According to UNRWA, Palestinian gunmen opened a hole in the border fence east of Rafah terminal at 0300L on September 1. The PA National Security Force (NSF) later closed the hole. ¶6. (SBU) On August 31 in Nablus, the IDF killed the head of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Nablus and wounded seven others. In the West Bank, the IDF arrested 16 Palestinians on August 30-September 1, including two PIJ and two PFLP members in Nablus, one al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member in Tulkarem refugee camp and a Fatah Tanzim member at Hizma checkpoint. Humanitarian Update -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Rafah was closed on August 31-September 1. Rafah was last open on August 26. ¶8. (SBU) The Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing was closed on August 31-September 1, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. The crossing was last open on August 15. The IDF discovered a deep tunnel running near the border at Karni/al-Mintar and destroyed the tunnel. Sufa, Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings were open on August 31-September 1 for imports into Gaza. The Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing was open August 31-September 1. ¶9. (SBU) All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into Gaza are operational on September 1, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. WALLES