VZCZCXRO4344
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1053 1721352
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201352Z JUN 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1864
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001053
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG IS PGOV PTER
SUBJECT: GAZA CEASEFIRE HOLDS ON 1ST DAY; SUFA, NAHAL OZ
OPEN, KEREM SHALOM, KARNI AND RAFAH CLOSED
1. (SBU) An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire covering the Gaza
Strip took effect at 0600 on June 19, and there have not been
any significant security incidents in the area as of 1700
local on June 20. While a Hamas spokesman complained an
Israeli navy vessel strafed the Gaza shoreline on June 19,
there are no reports of Israeli military activity in the
Strip or its airspace, nor any reports of rockets, mortars or
cross-border gunfire.
2. (SBU) The Hamas and PIJ military wings (Izz al-Din
al-Qassam Brigades and al-Quds Brigades respectively) and the
Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) all released statements
pledging respect for the ceasefire, but warning they will
retaliate for "Israeli violations." Local contacts report
Hamas security men have set up checkpoints and observation
posts in areas commonly used to fire rockets and mortars,
mainly in the northern Gaza Strip.
3. (SBU) On June 19, 51 truckloads of goods (47 private, 4
humanitarian organization) entered the Gaza Strip via Sufa
crossing. 315,000 liters of industrial fuel (a one-day
supply for Gaza's power plant), 100,000 liters of diesel and
125 metric tons of cooking oil were piped through Nahal Oz
terminal on June 19. 50 truckloads of wheat and animal feed
entered Gaza via the Karni/al-Mintar conveyor belt. Kerem
Shalom crossing and the back-to-back terminals at
Karni/al-Mintar remained closed June 19-20. Rafah Crossing
remained closed except for a small number of humanitarian
cases reportedly permitted by Egypt.
WALLES