GUNMEN STEAL UNRWA TRUCKS; UNRWA SUSPENDS ALL

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