VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIAN INSTITUTIONS IN GAZA;

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000332 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2018 TAGS: KWBG PTER IS PHUM PGOV SUBJECT: VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIAN INSTITUTIONS IN GAZA; HAMAS SECURITY DEEMED UNRESPONSIVE Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary. In the second major attack on Gaza's Christian institutions in a week, armed militants forced their way into the Lighthouse Baptist School in central Gaza City on February 21, beat one of the guards and vandalized some classrooms. On February 15, gunmen detonated explosives at the Gaza City YMCA, abducting its guards and burning the facility to the ground. In both cases, the institutions' managers said Hamas security officers pledged to protect the facilities, but did not respond until after the intruders fled. Gaza contacts uniformly report that the Dughmush clan and its proxy, the "Army of Islam," are responsible for the attacks. End summary. Second Attack in a Week on Gaza's Christian Institutions -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Six armed militants forced their way into the Lighthouse Baptist School in central Gaza City's Maydan Falastin neighborhood on February 21, beat one of the guards and vandalized some classrooms. School contacts report there was no major damage, but the gunmen threatened to kill the guards if they returned and made clear they targeted the school because it is a Christian institution. (Note: While the school is associated with the Baptist church and its directors are Christian, nearly all of its students and staff are Muslim. End note). ¶3. (SBU) The attack comes just a week after gunmen detonated explosives at the Gaza City YMCA, abducting its guards and burning the facility and its library of 8,000 book, to the ground. In both cases, the institutions' managers said Hamas security officers pledged to protect the facilities but did not respond until after the intruders fled. Gazans Finger "Army of Islam," Dughmush Clan -------------- ¶4. (C) Gaza City PLC member Rawiya al-Shawwa (Independent) told PolOff by phone on February 22 that security officials told her the Dughmush clan is behind both of the attacks and targeted the Christian institutions to embarrass Hamas. She said police have identified three suspects in the Lighthouse School attack, but the Dughmush clan refuses to turn them over to police for questioning. Al-Shawwa said clan leader Mu'ataz Dughmush believes Hamas leaders have reneged on financial arrangements with the clan and is thus using the clan's proxy, the "Army of Islam," to pressure Hamas by causing public embarrassment. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) The "Army of Islam" has targeted Christian institutions and foreigners for the past two years. Gaza contacts uniformly believe the "Army" is behind both the YMCA and Lighthouse School attacks. Hamas-Dughmush tension has risen considerably in the past week, including Dughmush attacks February 21 on a Hamas police patrol and fire toward Hamas leader Mahmud al-Zahar's home. WALLES