GAZA UPDATE JANUARY 15, 2009, 1700 LOCAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000145 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA, PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL/RAMCHAND; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN/NANDY/LAUDATO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAID PHUM KWBG ETRD IS CASC PTER MOPS SUBJECT: GAZA UPDATE JANUARY 15, 2009, 1700 LOCAL REF: JERUSALEM 138 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: UNRWA's main warehouse of food and medical supplies was engulfed in fire and destroyed on January 15, as a result of IDF shelling. UNRWA suspended some movements in Gaza, but continued operations. Gaza City residents report that the IDF has taken control of several high-rise buildings amid intense fighting. Gaza City residents lost electricity, running water, and most telecom services during IDF operations in the area. As of 1700 local, fighting had subsided in Gaza City, according to contacts on the ground. End summary. UNRWA movements temporarily halted following IDF attacks -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Per reftel, IDF artillery fire hit the UNRWA compound in Gaza City on the morning of January 15. At 1400 local, UNRWA reported that a fire had spread from the storage building and workshop to the large UNRWA warehouse, which is across a narrow street from the fuel tanks. UNRWA Gaza director John Ging's assistant told RefCoord that the UNRWA warehouse was engulfed in fire as of 1530 local, and completely destroyed. UNRWA said that nearly all its supplies were housed in this building. ¶3. (SBU) UNRWA staff in Gaza reported that hundreds of people are now sheltered nearby in the Rehabilitation Center for the Visually Impaired and in an UNRWA elementary school. Elsewhere, UNRWA shelters were open and receiving newly displaced persons. IDF operations in Gaza City -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Gaza City contacts reported that IDF troops remain in/near Gaza City, but that fighting had calmed by 1700 local. Gaza-based contacts, press, and the UN reported that the heaviest fighting took place in the southwestern Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, where at least two militants and an estimated fifteen unidentified Palestinians were reported killed (Note: This neighborhood was considered Gaza City's most upscale. End Note). IDF forces were seen in the area south of the Islamic University, and tanks and bulldozers were reported moving through the streets and public parks. ¶5. (SBU) A USAID contractor in Gaza City told Econoff that IDF snipers positioned themselves on the roofs of residential high-rise buildings near Al Quds Hospital on January 15. He said that IDF soldiers occupied the third floor of his apartment building and were firing from its windows, killing several people. Econoff heard several explosions during phone conversions with the contractor, and, following a large explosion at 1330 local, the landline disconnected. ¶6. (SBU) Gaza-based sources and press reported that IAF airstrikes and IDF shelling killed an estimated 31 Palestinians in northern Gaza and Gaza City, striking many targets in the downtown area. Targets included several tall buildings. Hospitals and clinics were also hit. One strike hit a media compound in Gaza City, wounding at least two journalists. A woman and three children were killed during airstrikes in Bayt Lahiya. Gaza-based contacts told ConGenOffs that airstrikes targeted the Rafah border area and al-Fukhari (south of Khan Yunis),but there were no signs of heavy fighting and airstrikes in central and southern Gaza. ¶7. (SBU) Contacts reported that much of Gaza City lost electricity from the grid and water from the mains during the early morning hours of January 15. Gaza City residents have generally remained in their homes since the night of January 14, seeking refuge from the violence. Mobile phone communications were down throughout Gaza most of the day on January 15. Hospital attacked and burned -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) contacts reported that two IDF tank rounds hit the PRCS Al Quds Hospital in southwest Gaza City, killing the hospital director. A fuel sector executive and USAID contractors who live close to that hospital reported that the main building and storage warehouse were burning at 1600 local, and patients could not be evacuated. The hospital storage and administrative buildings were destroyed by fire as of 1700 local, according to PRCS contacts. JERUSALEM 00000145 002 OF 002 ¶9. (SBU) ICRC staff in Gaza reported receiving hundreds of calls between 900-1100 local from the Tal Al Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City, where 25,000 people were trapped under heavy tank shelling. More than 150 civilians, mostly women and children, escaped and sought refuge at a nearby ICRC compound. ICRC confirmed that a large residential tower located near Al Quds hospital was hit, but ICRC was unable to coordinate access for a Palestinian fire brigade. The brigade attempted to approach the tower despite IDF warnings; two firemen were reportedly killed in subsequent shelling. No "Humanitarian Pause" -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The four-hour "humanitarian pause" scheduled for 1100-1500 local was generally not observed. Gaza contacts reported numerous explosions throughout Gaza City during this period. Grads fired -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Three Grad rockets were fired at Be'ersheva on the afternoon of January 15. One hit a car, injuring seven, one seriously. Crossings -------------- ¶12. (SBU) January 15: Kerem Shalom crossing was open, and UNRWA received a limited number of aid shipments. Karni's conveyer belt, Nahal Oz fuel transfer station, Erez, and Sufa crossings were closed, according to transportation contacts on January 15. ¶13. (SBU) January 14: UNRWA contacts reported that 102 truckloads and 150,000 liters of industrial gas entered Kerem Shalom. The Karni conveyor belt and Nahal Oz fuel transfer station were closed. A total of 12 trucks of humanitarian supplies entered and 23 medical evacuees exited Rafah. Erez and Sufa crossings were closed. Electricity/Fuel -------------- ¶14. (SBU) OCHA reported that continued damage to Gaza's internal electricity network deprives most Gazans of electricity, despite repairs to the power plant and feeder lines. As of January 15, Al Shifa hospital was running only on generator power, according private sector fuel contacts. AMCITS urgently request help -------------- ¶15. (SBU) As of January 15, plans to evacuate AMCITs (approximately 150 persons) remain suspended. ICRC maintains that it cannot escort any convoys of foreign evacuees during the current hostilities. Consular Section chief reported an influx in requests to speed up assistance, including AMCITS that lost homes in IDF attacks in Gaza City and are seeking shelter. WALLES