MFA RESPONSE ON ENTRY OF 80-90 ENTERING GAZA FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002943

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FO; NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PINS KWBG IS EG
SUBJECT: MFA RESPONSE ON ENTRY OF 80-90 ENTERING GAZA FROM
EGYPT

REF: A. JERUSALEM 2039

B. CAIRO 2816

C. CAIRO 2691

Classified By: ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR WILLIAM STEWAR

T.
REASONS: 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) PolEcon MinCons and POLOFF queried Egyptian MFA
Cabinet Advisor Hosam Zaki October 1 over recent press
reports that 80-90 Gazans had entered Gaza from Egypt. Zaki
acknowledged that the Palestinians had apparently crossed
into Gaza, but said that he would have to consult with other
GOE agencies for more details. Zaki, who became visibly
agitated when the issue was raised, said that Washington
should "calm down" and not blow things out of proportion. He
noted that the Egyptians are patrolling a 14 kilometer border
with 250 border guards, and that something like this was not
inconceivable despite the best efforts of the GOE.


2. (C) Separately, MFA Director for Palestinian Affairs Badr
Abdelatty told us the Palestinians had "rushed the border."
He asserted that, given the dire humanitarian situation the
Palestinians stranded in the Sinai have been facing since the
Hamas takeover of Gaza in June, the pressures have been
mounting for return of the remaining stranded Palestinians to
Gaza. According to Abdelatty, the border guard forces
decided not to open fire on the group as it crossed (in
apparent contrast to recent incidents in which Egyptian
security forces have used force to confront African refugees
and migrants attempting to enter Israel - reftel b).


3. (C) Comment: We have heard conflicting accounts of what
transpired from the GOE and it is unclear to what extent
various interlocutors are informed on what actually happened.
We will continue to follow up via the full range of GOE
channels.
JONES