GAZA: CROSSINGS CLOSED, ROCKET FIRE CONTINUES; GOI

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002081

NOFORN
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR GOLDBERGER/LENTZ/HANKINS;
PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR PASCUAL; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR
KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: KWBG IS PHUM PTER PREL ECON CASC
SUBJECT: GAZA: CROSSINGS CLOSED, ROCKET FIRE CONTINUES; GOI
DETAINS AMCIT

REF: JERUSALEM 2050

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. Summary: (C) All Gaza crossing were closed on November
18-19, except for Erez pedestrian crossing, which was open to
certain medical cases and international NGO employees. Five
Qassam rockets and four mortars were fired toward Israel
November 18-19. Israeli naval forces detained 15 fisherman
and three activists, including an Amcit, off the coast of
Gaza. Gaza fuel sector contacts reported on November 19 that
50,000-100,000 liters/day of diesel fuel has entered Gaza
from Egypt via the tunnels since November 9, meeting an
estimated 20 percent of demand. According to ConGen
contacts, no industrial fuel for the power plant comes in via
the tunnels. End summary.

Commercial and fuel crossings remain closed
--------------


2. (SBU) OCHA contacts in Gaza said that all Gaza commercial
crossings remained closed on November 19, including Kerem
Shalom, Sufa, and the Nahal Oz fuel transfer station. Erez
pedestrian crossing was open to restricted medical cases and
some international NGO employees. Nahal Oz has been closed
to diesel, gasoline, and cooking gas shipments since November

4.

Violence continues November 18-19
--------------


3. (SBU) Palestinian militants fired five Qassam rockets and
four mortars toward Israel November 18-19. Two rockets
landed near Zikiim, and three in open areas near Sderot, and
none caused injuries or property damage, according to
international organization contacts and press. Two mortars
landed near Kibbutz Nahal Oz without causing damage, and two
fell inside the Gaza Strip. PIJ and the PFLP claimed
responsibility for these attacks.


4. (SBU) Israeli naval forces detained 15 Palestinian
fisherman and three international activists off the Gaza
shore early November 18, according to press reports and
consular contacts. Detainees include an Amcit, Darlene
Wallach. The three activists are in Israel pending
deportation, according to press.

Diesel shipments at the tunnels
meet 20 percent of demand
--------------


5. (C/NF) Vice Chairman of the Gaza Fuel Sector Association
Mahmud Khuzander told Econoff on November 19 that
50,000-100,000 liters/day of diesel fuel has entered Gaza via
the tunnels at the Egypt border since November 9. He said
that no gasoline shipments have passed via the tunnels in the
last ten days. Khuzander and OCHA contacts in Gaza said that
most families have stored diesel and gasoline over the last
few months, and are using those limited reserves to drive
their vehicles and fuel their generators. Khuzander who owns
15 gas stations in Gaza, estimated that Gaza's current demand
for diesel fuel is 350,000 liters/day.

Power plant fuel
--------------


6. (C) The Gaza power plant chief engineer confirmed to
Econoff on November 19 that the plant has not received
industrial fuel shipments since November 12 and has been shut
down since November 13. He noted that no industrial fuel
enters via the tunnels. He said that the plant's storage
tanks are holding 30,000 liters (less than two hours) of
industrial fuel, which can not be used, as running the tanks
dry will ruin the turbines. EU contacts who manage the
supply of industrial fuel imported via Nahal Oz confirmed the
amounts of fuel in storage at the plant.


WALLES