Cablegate: Mggz01- Jerusalem September 1 Sitrep

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DE RUEHJM #3965 2441359
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 011359Z SEP 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4697
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 003965

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SENSITIVE
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NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS;
USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG
SUBJECT: MGGZ01- JERUSALEM SEPTEMBER 1 SITREP

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: IDF troops withdrew from the Gaza City
neighborhood of Shajayah on August 31, after a four-day
incursion. Unknown gunmen kidnapped and later released a
relative of HAMAS' Executive Force commander in Khan Younis
on August 31. In a separate incident, Palestinian gunmen
killed the head of the Popular Resistance Committee's
military wing in al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza. Rafah and
Karni/al-Mintar crossings were closed, while Nahal Oz fuel
transfer crossing was open on August 31-September 1. END
SUMMARY

Military Developments
---------------------

2. (SBU) The IDF withdrew from the Shajayah neighborhood of
Gaza City on August 31 after a four-day operation, in which 8
Palestinians were killed, including two civilians.

3. (SBU) Unknown gunmen kidnapped Osama Shahwan, who is a
relative of the commander of HAMAS' Executive Force in Khan
Younis, on the morning of August 31. An official from HAMAS'
Executive Force told media that the kidnappers came from the
al-Masri family, who were retaliating for the killing of one
its relatives by the Executive Force. Shahwan was released
the evening of August 31.

4. (SBU) In a separate incident on August 31, unknown
gunmen killed Raed Nahal, the head of the Popular Resistance
Committee (PRC) military wing in the al-Shati refugee camp in
Gaza.

5. (SBU) Ten Qassam rockets were launched from Gaza towards
Sderot and the western Negev during August 31-September 1,
but there were no reports of damage or injuries. The PIJ
al-Quds Brigades claimed responsibility for launching eight
of the rockets. According to UNRWA, Palestinian gunmen
opened a hole in the border fence east of Rafah terminal at
0300L on September 1. The PA National Security Force (NSF)
later closed the hole.

6. (SBU) On August 31 in Nablus, the IDF killed the head of
the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Nablus and wounded seven
others. In the West Bank, the IDF arrested 16 Palestinians on
August 30-September 1, including two PIJ and two PFLP members
in Nablus, one al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member in Tulkarem
refugee camp and a Fatah Tanzim member at Hizma checkpoint.

Humanitarian Update
-------------------

7. (SBU) Rafah was closed on August 31-September 1. Rafah
was last open on August 26.

8. (SBU) The Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing was closed
on August 31-September 1, according to USAID Gaza-based
staff. The crossing was last open on August 15. The IDF
discovered a deep tunnel running near the border at
Karni/al-Mintar and destroyed the tunnel. Sufa, Erez and
Kerem Shalom crossings were open on August 31-September 1 for
imports into Gaza. The Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing was
open August 31-September 1.

9. (SBU) All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into
Gaza are operational on September 1, according to USAID
Gaza-based staff.

WALLES

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