GAZA: 4 HAMAS DEAD IN IDF STRIKES; ROCKETS HITS

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001006 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KWBG IS PTER PGOV PINS ASEC SUBJECT: GAZA: 4 HAMAS DEAD IN IDF STRIKES; ROCKETS HITS SDEROT AS QASSAM FIRE CONTINUES REF: JERUSALEM 980 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. AT LEAST 29 QASSAM ROCKETS STRUCK ISRAEL FROM MAY 27 THROUGH 1600 LOCAL MAY 30, KILLING AN ISRAELI MAN, LIGHTLY INJURING TWO OTHERS, DAMAGING THREE BUILDINGS AND AT LEAST TWO VEHICLES, AND SETTING A WHEAT FIELD ON FIRE. AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE KILLED TWO HAMAS MILITARY-WING MEMBERS IN JABALIYA EARLY MAY 30, THE IDF KILLED TWO HAMAS MILITARY-WING FIGHTERS DURING AN ISRAELI INCURSION FROM SUFA CROSSING MAY 29, AND A SENIOR HAMAS LEADER DIED OF INJURIES SUSTAINED IN A PREVIOUS AIRSTRIKE MAY 27. THERE WAS MINIMAL INTER-FACTIONAL VIOLENCE IN GAZA DURING THIS PERIOD. END SUMMARY. QASSAMS ISRAELI MISSILES/RAIDS CONTINUE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) FROM MAY 27 THROUGH 1600 MAY 30, AT LEAST 29 QASSAM ROCKETS AND 13 IMPROVISED MORTAR ROUNDS STRUCK ISRAEL. ROCKETS (MAINLY IN SDEROT) KILLED AN ISRAELI MAN, LIGHTLY INJURED TWO OTHERS, DAMAGED AN APARTMENT COMPLEX AND OTHER BUILDING, AND SET FIRE TO A WHEAT FIELD. ¶3. (SBU) AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE KILLED TWO HAMAS MILITARY-WING MEMBERS IN JABALIYA (NORTHERN GAZA) EARLY MAY 30. HAMAS SPOKESMEN SAID THE IDF KILLED TWO OF THEIR MILITARY-WING FIGHTERS DURING AN ISRAELI INCURSION FROM SUFA CROSSING ON MAY 29. EARLY MAY 28, AND IAF AIRSTRIKE HIT AN "EXECUTIVE FORCE" (EF) POST IN JABALIYA, INJURING TWO OF THE EF'S MEMBERS. ON MAY 27, SENIOR HAMAS LEADER IMAD SHABANAH DIED OF INJURIES SUSTAINED IN AN EARLIER IAF AIRSTRIKE. HAMAS SPOKESMAN ISLAM SHAHWAN TOLD GAZAN JOURNALISTS ON MAY 29 THAT THE IAF HAS HIT 14 OF 16 EXECUTIVE FORCE BASES SINCE MAY 13. MINOR FATAH-HAMAS CLASHES -------------- ¶4. (SBU) THERE WAS MINIMAL INTER-FACTIONAL VIOLENCE MAY 27-30. HAMAS GUNMEN SHOT AT A FORCE 17 JEEP IN GAZA CITY MAY 28, DAMAGING THE JEEP BUT CAUSING NO INJURIES. A PALESTINIAN MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN NORTHERN GAZA MAY 27, BUT ACCORDING TO SECURITY CONTACTS THE SHOOTING WAS PART OF A FAMILY DISPUTE AND UNRELATED TO FATAH-HAMAS VIOLENCE. THE INTERFACTION FOLLOW-UP COMMITTEE REPORTED MAY 28 ITS SUCCESS IN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF FATAH AND HAMAS CHECKPOINTS IN GAZA CITY AND GENERAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE FACTIONAL CEASEFIRE. ¶5. (SBU) THREE PIJ MILITANTS DIED IN A MAY 29 EXPLOSION IN NUSSAYRAT CAMP IN GAZA CITY. SECURITY CONTACTS REPORT THE EXPLOSION WAS A "WORK ACCIDENT" (PARLANCE FOR MILITANTS ACCIDENTALLY BLOWING THEMSELVES UP WHILE BUILDING OR HANDLING HOMEMADE EXPLOSIVES). ANOTHER INTERNET CAFE BOMBED -------------- ¶6. (SBU) THE "SWORDS OF RIGHT" ARE SUSPECTED IN A BOMBING OF AN INTERNET CAFE MAY 27. THE "SWORDS OF RIGHT" AND OTHER VIGILANTE CALLS HAVE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED OVER A DOZEN MUSIC AND INTERNET SHOPS SINCE APRIL 1, FOR PROFFERING "IMMORAL MATERIAL." WALLES