UNCLAS TEL AVIV 002759

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR CA/OCS/ACS/NESA, NEA/IPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC GZ KPAL PREL IS ISRAEL RELATIONS COUNTERTERRORISM
SUBJECT: AMCIT EVACUATION FROM THE GAZA STRIP

REF: JERUSALEM 02871


1. Summary: On July 8, in a joint effort between
Embassies Tel Aviv and Amman and the Consulate General
Jerusalem, 68 American citizens were removed by bus
from the Erez border crossing to the Allenby Bridge.
From there they crossed into Jordan, where other buses
brought them to Amman. End summary.


2. Responding to requests for logistical and liaison
help from ConGen, on July 7 representatives from
Embassy Tel Aviv's Regional Security Office and
Consular Section met with Lt. Colonel Uri Singer, Head
of the Foreign Relations and International
Organizations Department at the Erez crossing, in an
attempt to create a protocol that would allow Amcits to
leave the Gaza Strip. At the time, the number of
people requesting evacuation was numbered at around

150. Lt. Col. Singer confirmed that a July 8
evacuation would be possible, pending Shin Bet vetting
of the proposed evacuees, but requested clarified lines
of communication between USG entities and the GOI, and
a different format for the submission of Amcits' names.


3. Working late into the night July 8, the Embassy
formatted the Amcits' vital data and forwarded it to
the GOI for security vetting. Clearance was granted
for around 100, of whom only 68 were eventually
evacuated, due to the Amcits' own lack of proper
preparation, documentation or timely presentation on
the Gaza side of the Erez crossing.


4. Two buses and one van traveled across green-line
Israel from Erez to Allenby Bridge. RSO and CONS Tel
Aviv escorted this convoy, in accordance with an
agreement with the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet)
requiring that the evacuees be under RSO Tel Aviv
control. Also present was the Embassy's Nurse
Practitioner to handle any health-related issues,
especially those that might result in an evacuee's
request to be allowed to stay in Israel or the West
Bank to seek medical treatment.


5. Prior to departure en route Allenby Bridge, RSO Tel
Aviv was advised that approximately seven special cases
would require attention. There were AmCits without
Palestinian passports and an East Jerusalem ID card
holder without the proper documentation to travel. RSO
Tel Aviv personnel at Allenby Bridge worked with the
GOI authorities, ensuring that the GOI procedures were
met.


6. As requests for help have continued to pour in to
ConGen ACS, Embassy Tel Aviv stands ready to aid in any
further efforts to assist American citizens who seek to
depart from the Gaza Strip.

JONES