GAZA TRUCE BREAKS DOWN

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000226 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017 TAGS: PREL KWBG IS KPAL PTER SUBJECT: GAZA TRUCE BREAKS DOWN REF: A. A) JERUSALEM 181 ¶B. B) JERUSALEM 189 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. The January 30 Gaza ceasefire proved short-lived, and 21 Palestinians died in interfactional clashes on February 1 and 2. The "Executive Force" attacked a supply convoy of items donated by the UAE escorted by the Presidential Guard (PG) in central Gaza on February 1, killing five from the PG and burning two trucks. In retaliation, Palestinian Authority security forces (PASF) attacked the Islamic University of Gaza (a symbolic center of Hamas influence) and an "Executive Force" headquarters in Gaza City later the same day, burning portions of both compounds. On February 2, Hamas military wing and "Executive Force" gunmen raided PASF bases in Gaza City and northern Gaza, killing an intelligence commander and five other agents and destroying three offices. End summary. Convoy Raid: Bloody Gunbattles -------------- ¶2. (C) The "Executive Force" attacked a PG-escorted convoy carrying flour sacks, tents and other items at 1500 on February 1. The good were donated by the UAE for use by security forces under the authority of the President. The "Executive Force" commandeered two of the trucks to al-Burayj Camp and then burned them, claiming they carried weapons. Gaza PG commander BG Musbah Buhasi told USSC officers that the PG fired back at the attackers but quickly ran out of ammunition and withdrew. (Note: He said the PG only supplies two rifle magazines per person. End Note). Five PG members were killed and 24 injured in the attack. USSC officers said the PG and NSF went on high alert at Karni/al-Mintir crossing and throughout northern Gaza after the attack. PASF sources said NSF and PG reinforcements arrived after the attack, and exchanged fire with the "Executive Force" and the Hamas military wing into the night. PASF Strike Back -------------- ¶3. (C) PASF led by the PG attacked Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) and an "Executive Force" headquarters in Gaza City late February 1 and burned portions of both compounds. Fatah spokesmen claimed PASF found weapons and ammunition at IUG and that the PSO detained six Iranian agents. BG Musbah later said that no Iranians were arrested and no weapons were found at IUG. The PG returned to the university early February 2 and burned additional portions of the compound. PASF Bases Attacked -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On February 2, Hamas military wing (Iz al-Din al-Qassam) and "Executive Force" gunmen raided General Intelligence (Mukhabarat) and PSO headquarters in Gaza City and northern Gaza, killing Mukhabarat officer BG Abd al-Qadr Salim (commander for northern Gaza) and two other Mukhabarat members, two PSO agents and a military intelligence (Istikhbarat) member and destroying three intelligence offices. At least two National Security Forces (NSF) members were killed in clashes with the "Executive Force" in northern Gaza. Mortars were fired at PG positions at President Abbas' Gaza residence and the PG training camp near Gaza City, injuring 12 PG members. WALLES