INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Limited Humanitarian Shipments Continue to Move

Published: Thu 28 Jun 2007 02:58 PM
VZCZCXRO8553
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1349 1791458
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 281458Z JUN 07
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8212
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001349
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; PRM FOR PDAS GREENE AND
PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS; TREASURY FOR
SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON; BRUSSELS FOR LERNER; PLEASE
PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN KPAL KWBG PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: LIMITED HUMANITARIAN SHIPMENTS CONTINUE TO MOVE
THROUGH GAZA CROSSINGS
REF: JERUSALEM 1317
1. (SBU) Summary: Karni/al-Mintar, Kerem Shalom, and Sufa
crossings were open to select humanitarian and commercial
shipments June 28, as operations at the crossings remains ad
hoc given the fluid security situation. ICRC transferred 17
sick and injured patients out of Gaza June 28. End summary.
Crossings Operating Ad Hoc
--------------------------
2. (SBU) WFP Spokesperson Kirstie Campbell told Econoff that
WFP shipped 10 truck loads of wheat-flour through Sufa
crossing on June 28. According to Campbell, Kerem Shalom
crossing opened on June 28 for 27 truck loads of commercial
products, but no humanitarian shipments, per her sources at
the Israeli side of Kerem Shalom.
3. (SBU) PIEDCO General Manager Nedal Ismail told Econoff
that Karni/al-Mintar crossing opened for wheat shipments on
June 28. Ismail said that PLO Chief Negotiator Erekat
directed that two former crossing employees return to
Karni/al-Mintar June 28 to manage the receipt of the wheat
shipments. This is the first movement through
Karni/al-Mintar since Hamas took control in Gaza.
ICRC Meets With Haniyah
-----------------------
4. (SBU) ICRC Director Katharina Ritz told Econoff June 28
that she and her team met with former PM Haniyah on June 27
to discuss on-going ICRC operations in Gaza. Ritz said that
she received Haniyah's assurances that Hamas would continue
to support ICRC's operations in Gaza. Ritz said that 17 sick
and injured patients were transferred from Gaza hospitals to
those Israel, Jerusalem, and the West Bank on June 28.
Increasing Through-Put
At Kerem Shalom Crossing
------------------------
5. (SBU) Current through-put at Kerem Shalom has been
limited to an estimated 25 truckloads per day. WFP's
Campbell told Econoff that through-put at the crossing could
be increased to an estimated 100 trucks per day if the paved
surface where Palestinians pick-up cargo was expanded from
100 to 400 square meters, creating additional space to load
more trucks.
WALLES
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