Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM258
2009-02-06 15:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
GUNMEN STEAL UNRWA TRUCKS; UNRWA SUSPENDS ALL
how-toVZCZCXRO5059 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #0258 0371527 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 061527Z FEB 09 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4060 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0168 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000258
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; PRM FOR FRONT OFFICE AND ANE;
NSC FOR SHAPIRO/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PTER PREL PGOV KPAL IS
SUBJECT: GUNMEN STEAL UNRWA TRUCKS; UNRWA SUSPENDS ALL
SHIPMENTS TO GAZA
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000258
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; PRM FOR FRONT OFFICE AND ANE;
NSC FOR SHAPIRO/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PTER PREL PGOV KPAL IS
SUBJECT: GUNMEN STEAL UNRWA TRUCKS; UNRWA SUSPENDS ALL
SHIPMENTS TO GAZA
1. (SBU) Transport contacts reported to EconOff late February
5 that gunmen connected to Hamas seized eleven truckloads of
Arab donations containing rice and flour intended for UNRWA.
The trucks had entered Israel from the Nizzana/al-Aouja
border crossing with Egypt and then passed through Kerem
Shalom into Gaza. The contacts reported that truckers
connected to Hamas warned UNRWA-contracted truckers waiting
to pick up the shipments at the Kerem Shalom crossing to
"leave the Arab donations for us to pick up -- or we will
break your hands and feet."
2. (SBU) On February 6, UNRWA/Gaza Director John Ging
initially denied but later confirmed that ten trucks were
taken. Ging said that he has suspended all UNRWA shipments to
Gaza until the missing supplies are recovered and UNRWA
receives "assurances from the Hamas government in Gaza that
there will be no repeat of these thefts."
3. (SBU) UNRWA issued an immediate press release confirming
the suspension of aid shipments to Gaza. Ging also told
RefCoord that he has suspended UNRWA/Gaza's Deputy Logistics
Officer, who was present at Kerem Shalom yesterday and had
confirmed receipt of all supplies February 5, pending an
investigation.
WALLES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; PRM FOR FRONT OFFICE AND ANE;
NSC FOR SHAPIRO/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PTER PREL PGOV KPAL IS
SUBJECT: GUNMEN STEAL UNRWA TRUCKS; UNRWA SUSPENDS ALL
SHIPMENTS TO GAZA
1. (SBU) Transport contacts reported to EconOff late February
5 that gunmen connected to Hamas seized eleven truckloads of
Arab donations containing rice and flour intended for UNRWA.
The trucks had entered Israel from the Nizzana/al-Aouja
border crossing with Egypt and then passed through Kerem
Shalom into Gaza. The contacts reported that truckers
connected to Hamas warned UNRWA-contracted truckers waiting
to pick up the shipments at the Kerem Shalom crossing to
"leave the Arab donations for us to pick up -- or we will
break your hands and feet."
2. (SBU) On February 6, UNRWA/Gaza Director John Ging
initially denied but later confirmed that ten trucks were
taken. Ging said that he has suspended all UNRWA shipments to
Gaza until the missing supplies are recovered and UNRWA
receives "assurances from the Hamas government in Gaza that
there will be no repeat of these thefts."
3. (SBU) UNRWA issued an immediate press release confirming
the suspension of aid shipments to Gaza. Ging also told
RefCoord that he has suspended UNRWA/Gaza's Deputy Logistics
Officer, who was present at Kerem Shalom yesterday and had
confirmed receipt of all supplies February 5, pending an
investigation.
WALLES