GAZA: INTERNAL CONFLICT SHIFTS TO HAMAS-GOI

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000940 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA, NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KWBG IS PTER PGOV PINS ASEC SUBJECT: GAZA: INTERNAL CONFLICT SHIFTS TO HAMAS-GOI CONFRONTATION REF: JERUSALEM 929 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Following a new, Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreed to at 1500 local on May 19, internal Palestinian fighting has subsided to sporadic levels. One Palestinian was killed in Fatah-Hamas clashes May 18 (prior to the ceasefire). 25 Palestinians were killed by Israeli air strikes and tank fire since the evening of May 18, and Palestinian militants fired 57 Qassam rockets into Israel during this period. End summary. Intra-Palestinian Clashes Subside -------------- ¶2. (SBU) At 1500 local on May 19, Fatah and Hamas representatives agreed to a renewed ceasefire commitment under the auspices of the Egyptians, represented locally by MG Burhan Hamad. Since the ceasefire took effect, interfactional violence has declined to sporadic levels. The ceasefire agreement established a high-level follow-up committee to ensure compliance. The committee is made up of Fatah representatives Rawhi Fatuh and Gaza presidential security advisor Abd al-Razaq Mujaydah; Hamas representatives PM Ismayil Haniyah and PLC member Khalil al-Haya and PIJ/PFLP/DFLP/minor faction representatives. The National and Islamic Forces (NIF) continue to monitor factional fighting at roadblocks and record violations, according to Gaza security contacts. ¶3. (SBU) Prior to the latest ceasefire, one Palestinian died in interfactional clashes, and another died from previously sustained injuries. Qassams and Israeli Air Strikes Increase -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Palestinian militants fired 57 Qassam rockets into Israel from 1600 (local) on May 18 to 1400 on May 21, resulting in property damage but no deaths and three minor injuries. Israeli air strikes and tank fire directed at Hamas and PIJ leadership and Qassam teams killed 25 Palestinians during this time period. ¶5. (SBU) Palestinian security contacts and Arabic-language press report that an IAF airstrike on Hamas PLC member Khalil al-Haya's home killed 8 Palestinians (including 7 members of al-Haya's family; al-Haya himself was not present) late on May 20, and another strike killed 4 PIJ members traveling in a vehicle in northern Gaza on May 21. Of the 25 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks since May 18, Hamas has claimed 6 as its members, while PIJ acknowledged the 4 killed May 21 as its militants. Comment -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The factions maintain a wary eye on the each others' activities, but their public statements and activities are now focused on Israeli attacks, which most Gazans perceive as a common threat and which make intra-Palestinian violence politically unacceptable while they continue. WALLES