GAZA UPDATE JANUARY 2, 1800 LOCAL: AIRSTRIKES,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000018 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL/RAMCHAND E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC MOPS KWBG IS SUBJECT: GAZA UPDATE JANUARY 2, 1800 LOCAL: AIRSTRIKES, ROCKETS CONTINUE; DEMONSTRATIONS ACROSS THE WEST BANK REF: JERUSALEM 7 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. From 1300 through 1800 on January 2, at least ten rockets struck Israel. Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least five more Palestinians (including three children),while three others died of wounds previously sustained. The house of Imad Aql, a senior Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades leader, was also struck, but Aql was reportedly not there. The funeral for Hamas' Nizar al-Rayyan in Jabaliya was attended by thousands and interrupted by a nearby airstrike. Gaza-based contacts estimated that at least 410 Palestinians have been killed and over 1500 have been injured (requiring hospital attention) since December 27. Mid-day prayers in Jerusalem and a large demonstration in Ramallah ended without major incident, and there were scattered clashes throughout the West Bank. In Hebron, PA security forces fired into the air to disperse protesters marching towards an IDF position. 16 Amcits and 11 non-Amcit family members were successfully evacuated from Gaza to Jordan by ConGen staff with the assistance of Embassies Amman and Tel Aviv. End summary. Seven Rockets Fired at Ashkelon, Injuring Three; Five Palestinians Killed, Including Senior Hamas Militant -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) At least 10 rockets struck Israel on January 2 from 1300 through 1800, including at least three more that hit residential areas in Ashkelon, injuring an Israeli, according to Israeli press. Three rockets landed in the Eshkol region of the Negev, including one in the yard of a house, but no injuries were reported. ¶3. (SBU) Israeli airstrikes killed at least five more Palestinians and injured several others through 1800 on January 2. The IAF struck a house in the al-Shuja'iya neighborhood of Gaza City, killing one Palestinian and injuring two others. A strike on an open area in Bayt Hanun killed one Palestinian. Three children were reportedly killed in the al-Qarara area of Khan Yunis when a nearby house was hit by air-to-ground ordnance. The house of Imad Aql, a senior Izz al-Din al-Qassam brigades member, was struck in Nussayrat camp, but Aql was reportedly away from home. Air-to-ground ordnance again hit border areas near Rafah, according to Israeli press. Demonstrations in West Bank; Jerusalem Prayers Incident-Free -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) In Ramallah, more than 7,000 Palestinians participated in a march from Jamal Abd al-Nasser mosque to al-Manara square without major incident. PA security forces arrested two Hamas members for displaying Hamas flags. Thousands also demonstrated in Nablus, Jenin, Qalqiliya, Jericho, Tulkarem, and Bethlehem. Stone throwing incidents with the IDF occurred at Qalandiya, Na'alin, and Bil'in with no injuries reported. The IDF used tear gas and rubber-coated bullets to disperse stone throwers and demonstrators in Bayt Umar and Halhul villages near Hebron, al-Masara village near Bethlehem, Huwwara village near Nablus, and Jayyus village near Qalqiliya. Palestinian press reported 18 demonstrators were injured in these incidents. ¶5. (SBU) Several thousand Palestinians demonstrated in Hebron, according to PA security contacts. During these demonstrations, PA police fired into the air to disperse several hundred demonstrators who were marching towards IDF positions near al-Shalalah street. According to PA security contacts, Hamas had not obtained a permit for the demonstration and all factions had been informed that demonstrations would only be permitted if no factional flags were displayed and if demonstrators avoided friction points with IDF soldiers. Some skirmishes did occur with the IDF in the vicinity, with some injuries. ¶6. (SBU) In Jerusalem, prayers at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount ended without incident, according to security contacts. At least three Palestinian men just below the age restriction (50 years of age and up) were arrested by Israeli police after being barred from entrance. On Salah al-Din Street in East Jerusalem, press report that demonstrators threw two molotov cocktails at Israeli police. Dozens of demonstrators near Herod and Damascus Gates threw stones at Israeli police, but no injuries were reported. Three people were detained near Damascus gate in a protest that ended at 1400 local. In the Ras al-Amud neighborhood of East Jerusalem, security contacts report one Israeli police JERUSALEM 00000018 002 OF 002 officer was injured in stone-throwing clashes. Political Reactions -------------- ¶7. (SBU) At the funeral of Nizar al-Rayyan in Jabalia, Hamas PLC member Fathi Hamad delivered a sermon and said "the assassination of Hamas leaders will not weaken the movement," and vowed revenge for al-Rayyan's death. During the funeral, an airstrike in Jabaliya camp caused panic among the crowd of several thousand attendees, but the funeral ended without further incident. Evacuation -------------- ¶8. (SBU) ConGen staff organized the evacuation of 16 Amcits and 11 of their non-Amcit family members from Gaza to Jordan on January 2, with the assistance of Embassies Amman and Tel Aviv. News of the evacuation prompted calls from additional Amcits in Gaza, not registered with the Consulate, for assistance in leaving. WALLES