GAZA SITREP, JANUARY 13, 1200

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 000090

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS PINS KWBG CASC EG IS JO KPAL EAID
PHUM
SUBJECT: GAZA SITREP, JANUARY 13, 1200

Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (S) Summary: Israeli media reports PM Olmert indicated to
foreign leaders January 12 that he was prepared to give
Egyptian-sponsored cease-fire talks a chance prior to a
decision on a third phase of Operation Cast Lead. At the
same time, Olmert stated in a speech to Israeli southern city
mayors that Hamas will meet "Israel's iron fist" should it
not agree to cease rocket fire and weapons smuggling
activities. Operation Cast Lead continues, with heavy
fighting overnight and continued airstrikes and bombardment;
Israeli media reports IDF forces entering Gaza City suburbs
early January 13. DAO officers observed continued IDF
deployments to points south in the event of an expanded
operation. Embassy and ConGen Jerusalem officers continue to
work with the ICRC and GOI to coordinate two possible
U.S.-led multinational evacuations of over 850 foreign
nationals -- including 138 AMCITS -- through the Erez and
Rafah border crossings. The evacuations are dependent on
Egyptian approval to depart through Rafah, and ICRC
facilitation and escort efforts in both cases. Israel
announced a humanitarian pause between 0900 and 1200 local.
GOI officials expect 100 truckloads of humanitarian
assistance to transit the Kerem Shalom crossing January 13;
Erez remains open for urgent humanitarian cases only. Early
reports indicate the Karni crossing will be closed due to
security concerns. Unidentified attackers fired shots across
the border from Jordan at an Israeli Border Police patrol at
the Rabin crossing near Eilat. No injuries were reported; a
joint Israeli-Jordanian team is reportedly investigating the
incident. On the diplomatic front, the German FM Steinmeier
concluded a January 11-12 visit, Spanish FM Moratinos is here
today as is ICRC President Kellenberger. UNSYG Ban Ki-Moon
arrives on January 15. End Summary.

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Political Developments
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2. (SBU) Israeli media outlets reported extensively on
on-going talks in Cairo, as well as Hamas Prime Minister
Haniya's taped speech calling for an immediate cease-fire due
to extensive destruction in Gaza. According to the press,
Hamas emissaries arrived in Cairo during the evening of
January 12 for cease-fire talks with Egyptian officials. The
press also reported that PM Olmert indicated to foreign
leaders he was ready to give the Egyptian-sponsored talks a
chance prior to a decision to expand into a third phase of
Operation Cast Lead. Meanwhile, Olmert took a decidedly
harder line during a January 12 speech to southern city
mayors and regional council members in Ashkelon, calling for
a cessation of Hamas rocket fire and smuggling -- anything
less will "slam into Israel's iron fist." He made a point of
noting that Israel's war aims did not include dismantling of
Hamas, according to a televised Olmert statement picked up by
Al-Jazeera.

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Military Operations: "Stage 2.5"
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3. (C) The IDF Spokesman reported January 13 that IDF ground
forces were involved overnight in several firefights, killing
an estimated 30 Hamas operatives. According to this
spokesman, two tunnels rigged with explosive in the north
near the Gaza security fence were uncovered by IDF forces.
Additionally, Israel Air Force (IAF) aircraft attacked over
60 targets overnight, including tunnels near Rafah, rocket
launch sites, and against Hamas operatives located in various
buildings such as houses, a hotel and a mosque.


4. (C) While the Cabinet has not yet been asked to authorize
a so-called third stage of operations, media outlets report a
steady escalation of IDF forces including the deployment of
reserve units, leading one commentator to refer to the
current state of hostilities as "stage 2.5." Backed by
artillery and attack helicopter support, Israeli troops moved
into Gaza City suburbs early January 13. Residents told the
Associated Press that Israeli tanks rolled into the densely
populated neighborhood of Tel Hawwa on the southern edge of
Gaza City. Media outlets report several IDF soldiers were
wounded during firefights through the course of the evening;
four IDF soldiers were wounded -- one seriously -- due to
friendly fire late January 12. An IDF officer was seriously
wounded after entering a booby-trapped building in northern
Gaza. Media outlets report three rockets landing in the
Negev early January 13. Nearly 950 Palestinians have been
killed during Operation Cast Lead, along with over 4,000 who
have been injured. Israeli casualty totals stand at 10
soldiers and three civilians killed, with several hundred

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soldiers wounded.


5. (S) DAO reports January 12 the IDF continues to
concentrate military operations on the northern sector of the
Gaza Strip. However, heavy construction equipment,
refuelers, and maintenance vehicles -- including road graters
which could be used to build a hard surface road -- were
observed heading southwest, perhaps in support of a larger
push in southern Gaza, where media outlets such as Al-Jazeera
report hostilities in the vicinity of Khan Younis. DAO
officers note a slow buildup of ground forces in the center
and south Gaza Strip. In addition, a large number of M-113
armored personnel carriers moved out of the Tse'elim National
Ground Training Center.

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Humanitarian
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6. (C) The Embassy and ConGen continue to work with the ICRC
and GOI to coordinate a U.S.-led multinational evacuation of
over 850 foreign nationals -- including 138 AMCITS -- from
the Gaza Strip. The evacuation has been postponed from the
originally targeted departure of Wednesday, January 14 as
ICRC is overwhelmed with other priorities -- including the
January 13-14 visit of ICRC President Kellenberger to Gaza
(including Shifa Hospital) and Israel (Sderot) -- and cannot
provide required escorts. Current plans involve two
evacuations: the first for foreign nationals located in
northern Gaza (where most remaining Amcits are located)
through Erez and on to Jordan, and the second for foreign
nationals located points south of Gaza City through Rafah.
The MOD/IDF have approved the evacuation through Rafah --
including guarantees that the IAF will not bomb the
Philadelphi corridor during the evacuation -- and remains
committed to facilitating the Erez northern evacuation.
Egyptian approval for the Rafah southern evacuation is still
pending. The ICRC is expected to facilitate both
evacuations; we are currently awaiting word from ICRC on a
departure date with the hope of conducting both evacuations
by the end of the week. Emboffs briefed evacuation plans and
coordination efforts January 12 to over 30 members of the
diplomatic community whose nationals are hoping to
participate in the evacuations. Emboffs continue to engage
with the GOI on a separate evacuation for Palestinian
employees and partners.

7. (SBU) The IDF declared another humanitarian pause on
January 13, scheduled to take place from 0900 to 1200 local;
the UN has confirmed the pause. A humanitarian pause took
place between 1000 and 1300 local on January 12. The Nahal
Oz fuel terminal was closed on January 12 due to security
issues and remains closed January 13. Some 300,000 liters of
diesel and 200 tons of cooking gas are still waiting to be
picked up on the Gaza side of the border. The GOI reported
January 13 that it expects to transport 100 truckloads of
goods into Gaza through Kerem Shalom. The Erez crossing is
open for urgent humanitarian cases only -- no trucks. Early
reports indicate Karni may be closed January 13 due to
shooting in the area.


8. (SBU) Media reported January 12 that the GOI was
investigating how a night-vision security camera and other
electronics equipment ended up in a humanitarian shipment
seized at Kerem Shalom. UNWRA later clarified January 12
that the equipment had been approved by the Coordinator for
Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) for the
power plant and to repair transmission lines.


9. (C) The IDF considered setting up a field hospital to
treat Palestinians either in Gaza or Israeli territory.
However, the ICRC assessed the establishment of a field
hospital as premature and unnecessary as long as Shifa
Hospital in Gaza and secondary hospitals remain operational,
and medical evacuations are processed. According to January
12 discussion at the humanitarian coordination cell, the IDF
has decided for the time being to suspend plans to set up the
field hospital based on the ICRC's assessment.


10. (U) The "Free Gaza" boat that had been destined for Gaza
has returned to Cyprus with mechanical problems.

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Diplomacy
--------------


11. (C) German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier was in Israel from
January 11-12 to discuss the offer Germany made to Egypt to
provide technical support and training to combat smuggling
along the Philadelphi corridor. German Political Officer Uwe
Schmalz told PolOff on January 13 that FM Livni welcomed any

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contribution that could prevent smuggling of arms and said
that such efforts could help bring about a cease-fire.
However, Livni emphasized, both privately and in a press
conference with Steinmeier, that Israel will determine when
the fighting should stop and that only through deterrence
could Israel stop the rocket fire. Schmalz said that the
State Secretary from the German Ministry of Interior was
already in Egypt discussing details of the assistance,
stressing that Germany was only planning to work on the
Egyptian side of the border. Schmalz added that Steinmeier
did not come with any new initiative to bring about a
cease-fire, and told Livni that UNSCR 1860 is the right
framework to end the fighting. FM Livni is scheduled to meet
with Spanish FM Moratinos in Jerusalem this afternoon.


12. (SBU) UN SYG Ban Ki-Moon plans to visit the region on
January 15. The MFA issued an statement January 12 rejecting
the "one-sided" resolution of the UN Human Rights Council.
According to the statement, Israel characterized the
resolution as irrelevant" and adopted without the support of
western and democratic states, including Canadian opposition
and abstentions from 13 other states including several EU
members, Japan, Korea, Ukraine, Switzerland, Cameroon, and
Bosnia-Herzegovina.

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Southern Borders
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13. (C) Israeli media reported that gunshots were fired at
Israel Border Police from the Jordanian side of the Rabin
border crossing near Eilat. Israeli forces reportedly
returned fire, but were unable to identify the attackers.
The GOI has submitted an official complaint with the
Government of Jordan; a joint Israeli-Jordanian team is
reportedly investigating the incident. No injuries were
reported; the crossing is currently closed.

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