GAZA NSF CHIEF: CEASEFIRE GENERALLY HOLDING, BUT

S E C R E T JERUSALEM 000189 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016 TAGS: PREL KWBG PINS IS KPAL PTER PINR SUBJECT: GAZA NSF CHIEF: CEASEFIRE GENERALLY HOLDING, BUT NO SOLUTION TO UNDERLYING DISPUTES REF: JERUSALEM 53 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Summary. Gaza National Security Forces (NSF) commander BG Jamal Kayyad told Poloff on January 30 that a Fatah-Hamas ceasefire is holding. However, he believes it will eventually collapse as it is not comprehensive in scope and does not address underlying Fatah-Hamas political disputes. Unknown gunmen killed a Hamas member in Khan Yunis at 1500 local, and the Hamas "Executive Force" maintains an armed presence at 14-15 locations in Gaza City. The NSF received 50 percent of its monthly salary on January 30, Kayyad said, and expects to receive the other half on February 6. He said current Gaza NSF commanders and deputies will be replaced in less than one month. End summary. Gaza NSF Chief: Ceasefire Holding But Underlying Disputes Remain -------------- ¶2. (C) In a January 30 phone call, Gaza NSF commander BG Jamal Kayyad told Poloff that a Fatah-Hamas ceasefire went into effect with Egyptian mediation at 0300 local on January 30 and is generally holding. He said most gunmen are off the streets, but the Hamas "Executive Force" has armed members at 14-15 locations in Gaza City. He said there had only been scattered gunfire and no injuries through 1430 local. ¶3. (C) Kayyad said that he believes the current ceasefire will eventually collapse, as it is not comprehensive in scope, and does not address underlying Fatah-Hamas political disputes that give rise to fighting. Khan Yunis Slaying Threatens Ceasefire -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Unknown gunmen shot and killed Hamas member Hussayn al-Shubasi in Khan Yunis at 1500 local on January 30, seemingly the first major breach of the ceasefire. Hamas spokesmen blamed Fatah gunmen for the death, while Fatah spokesmen told Palestinian journalists that al-Shubasi was killed in a family dispute unrelated to Fatah-Hamas rivalry. There have not been other significant violations of the ceasefire as of 1700 local. NSF Command, Salary, Mandate and Training -------------- ¶5. (S) BG Kayyad said he has recommended replacement of the three current NSF commanders in Gaza (North, Central and South). He said he expects President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) to approve a list of new commanders and deputies for the three regions in less than one month. He said the NSF received 50 percent of its monthly salary on January 30, and expects to receive the other half on February 6. He said he is waiting to meet with President Abbas to clarify Kayyad's mandate, control over NSF administration, and his reporting relationship with presidential security advisor Abd al-Razaq Mujaydah and PLC member Muhammad Dahlan, as reported Reftel. ¶6. (S) Kayyad said he is aware of plans for NSF battalions to train on a rotating, 45-day basis in Egypt. He said Dahlan and Mujaydah are concerned about sending a line NSF battalion for extended periods (i.e. 4 months) of specialized training in Egypt, and therefore are considering sending the Bahriya (coastal patrol force) for extended training instead. WALLES