Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAIRO2321
2007-07-29 15:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
STRANDED PALESTINIANS BEGIN TO DEPART RAFAH FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO5216 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #2321 2101505 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 291505Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6310 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002321
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC STAFF FOR WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM KPAL IS EG
SUBJECT: STRANDED PALESTINIANS BEGIN TO DEPART RAFAH FOR
GAZA, VIA ISRAEL
Classified by A/DCM William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002321
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC STAFF FOR WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM KPAL IS EG
SUBJECT: STRANDED PALESTINIANS BEGIN TO DEPART RAFAH FOR
GAZA, VIA ISRAEL
Classified by A/DCM William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) Egyptian military intelligence told Assistant Army
Attache who was visiting North Sinai on July 29 that 101
Palestinians, among the estimated 6000 who have been stranded
in Egypt since the June 9 closure of the Rafah border
crossing with Gaza, have begun to make their homeward
journey. Due to the closure of Rafah, and Hamas threats to
disrupt or attack any effort to move the travlers through the
nearby Israeli-Egyptian crossing at Kerem Shalom (Karim Abu
Salem),the GOE worked with the GOI and the PA to achieve a
high-level political agreement o/a July 23 to facilitate the
return of the Palestinians via Netzana (AKA Auja, from
Egyptian Sinai into Israel),approximately 50 kms south of
Rafah. The agreement called for the returning Palestinians
to transit Israel as they headed back into Gaza, via Eretz, a
border crossing in north Gaza that is still under Fatah
control.
2. (C) Egyptian military contacts further told our Attache
that they plan to assist 1000-1500 Palestinians to return to
Gaza on Monday, July 30. The GOE has been increasingly keen
in recent days to facilitate the return of the stranded
Palestinians to Gaza, particularly in the face of increased
media attention to the plight of the Palestinians.
3. (U) Wire service reports, quoting the Palestinian
embassy in Cairo, indicated that the GOE used the Al-Arish
stadium as a staging ground for the commencement of the
repatriation process. According to the wire service reports,
a spokesman for the Palestinian embassy indicated that "a
second batch (around 500 people)" will be transported
tomorrow. The spokesman said "Priority is given to those who
previously registered their names at the Palestinian embassy
in Cairo."
RICCIARDONE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC STAFF FOR WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM KPAL IS EG
SUBJECT: STRANDED PALESTINIANS BEGIN TO DEPART RAFAH FOR
GAZA, VIA ISRAEL
Classified by A/DCM William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) Egyptian military intelligence told Assistant Army
Attache who was visiting North Sinai on July 29 that 101
Palestinians, among the estimated 6000 who have been stranded
in Egypt since the June 9 closure of the Rafah border
crossing with Gaza, have begun to make their homeward
journey. Due to the closure of Rafah, and Hamas threats to
disrupt or attack any effort to move the travlers through the
nearby Israeli-Egyptian crossing at Kerem Shalom (Karim Abu
Salem),the GOE worked with the GOI and the PA to achieve a
high-level political agreement o/a July 23 to facilitate the
return of the Palestinians via Netzana (AKA Auja, from
Egyptian Sinai into Israel),approximately 50 kms south of
Rafah. The agreement called for the returning Palestinians
to transit Israel as they headed back into Gaza, via Eretz, a
border crossing in north Gaza that is still under Fatah
control.
2. (C) Egyptian military contacts further told our Attache
that they plan to assist 1000-1500 Palestinians to return to
Gaza on Monday, July 30. The GOE has been increasingly keen
in recent days to facilitate the return of the stranded
Palestinians to Gaza, particularly in the face of increased
media attention to the plight of the Palestinians.
3. (U) Wire service reports, quoting the Palestinian
embassy in Cairo, indicated that the GOE used the Al-Arish
stadium as a staging ground for the commencement of the
repatriation process. According to the wire service reports,
a spokesman for the Palestinian embassy indicated that "a
second batch (around 500 people)" will be transported
tomorrow. The spokesman said "Priority is given to those who
previously registered their names at the Palestinian embassy
in Cairo."
RICCIARDONE