GAZA STRIP LARGELY QUIET; CROSSINGS REOPEN FOR

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001114 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWBG IS PGOV PTER ASEC SUBJECT: GAZA STRIP LARGELY QUIET; CROSSINGS REOPEN FOR LIMITED FUEL/HUMANITARIAN AID ¶1. (SBU) Two mortars were fired from Gaza late June 28, but no impacts were reported on the Israeli side of the perimeter fence, and no injuries/damage were reported. Palestinian press report the Israeli Navy fired on fishing boats off the coast near Dayr al-Balah (central Gaza) on June 28, without causing any injuries or damage. ¶2. (SBU) UN, Palestinian and NGO contacts report that Sufa crossing was open June 29-30, allowing roughly 80 truckloads of commercial and humanitarian products on both days. The Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing was closed June 29-30, although the conveyer belt near that crossing continued transfers of grains and animal feed into Gaza. Erez pedestrian crossing was open on July 29-30 to several international NGO employees and 25 medical patients that had pre-arranged departure with the GOI. The director of the Gaza Fuel Agency said Nahal Oz fuel transfer station was open June 29-30 for limited shipments of industrial fuel, diesel, gasoline, and cooking gas. The Fuel Agency said that GOI plans to allow 2.2 million liters of industrial fuel, 880,000 liters of diesel, 75,000 liters of gasoline, and 800 tons of cooking gas into Gaza from June 29-July 4, an amount set by the IDF, not by terminal capacity or demand (both of which are much higher). Rafah crossing was closed June 28-29. Palestinian press report that the crossing will be open on July 1-2 for students, medical cases and Palestinians who reside abroad. ¶3. (SBU) Hamas leader Mahmud al-Zahar told press June 28 that Hamas will disarm and arrest anyone who violates the ceasefire. Hamas-controlled police detained al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades spokesman Muhammad Irmanah (Abu Qusay) in Rafah on June 29, releasing him late the same day, after Abu Qusay issued a statement that claimed the al-Aqsa Brigades will continue to fire rockets and that Hamas and other factions have betrayed the Palestinian resistance by accepting a Gaza-only ceasefire. (Note: Al-Aqsa militants in the West Bank threatened June 29 to attack Hamas members in the West Bank if Abu Qusay was not immediately released. End note). Separately, Fatah released names of 49 faction members jailed by Hamas, and alleged that family members of the arrestees have been prevented from visiting. Fatah contacts said Hamas security men arrested five additional Fatah activists in Bayt Lahiya on June 28. ¶4. (U) PIJ leader Khalid al-Batsh told press June 29 that the Gaza ceasefire will eventually collapse if Gaza's crossings remain closed or restricted. He said PIJ and Hamas have a common position on the ceasefire and Hamas is preparing for future confrontations with Israel. WALLES