VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJM #3823 2361518
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 241518Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4510
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 003823 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS, USAID 
FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG PHUM
SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM AUGUST 24 SITREP 
 
 
¶1.    (SBU) Summary.  Palestinian militants on August 24 
detonated an explosive device near the wall at the Rafah 
crossing separating Gaza from Egypt.  PA and Egyptian 
security successfully brought the situation under control. 
IDF units operating near Khan Younis overnight August 23-24 
killed one Hamas gunman while arresting a senior Hamas 
activist.  Four other Hamas gunmen were wounded in the 
exchange of gunfire.  The IDF also shot and wounded two 
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) gunmen in the vicinity of the 
security fence near the Kissufim crossing.  A 16-year-old 
Palestinian was shot and killed in the exchange of gunfire. 
PIJ claimed responsibility for firing a rocket on August 24 
from northern Gaza toward Ashkelon, but there were no 
reported injuries or property damage.  IDF units the evening 
of August 23 shot and critically wounded Husam Jaradat, the 
head of the PIJ military wing in the West Bank.  The Rafah 
and Karni/al-Mintar crossings are closed on August 24, but 
the Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing is open.  End summary. 
 
Military Developments 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.    (SBU) Palestinian gunmen, reportedly affiliated with 
the Popular Resistance Committees, on August 24 detonated an 
explosive device near the wall dividing Egypt from Gaza.  The 
explosion caused damage to the wall but was not large enough 
to enable passage for Palestinians seeking to transit the 
Rafah crossing.  PA and Egyptian security personnel responded 
to the explosion and successfully brought the situation under 
control.  The gunmen eventually left and the PA security 
restored order at 1430L. 
 
¶3.    (SBU) During an IDF incursion near Khan Younis 
overnight August 23-24, IDF soldiers shot and killed a Hamas 
gunman while arresting a senior Hamas activist.  Four other 
Hamas gunmen were injured during the exchange of gunfire. 
IDF units opened fire at two PIJ gunmen, injuring both, in 
the vicinity of the security fence near the Kissufim 
crossing.  A 16-year-old Palestinian was shot and killed 
during the exchange of gunfire.  Israeli naval units shelled 
open areas of the northern and central Gaza Strip, but there 
were no reported injuries.  PIJ claimed responsibility for 
the firing of a rocket towards Ashkelon on August 24.  There 
were no reported injuries or property damage. 
 
¶4.    (SBU) In the West Bank, IDF undercover units operating 
in Jenin on the evening of August 23 shot and critically 
wounded Husam Jaradat, a senior member of the PIJ military 
wing.  Jaradat was briefly hospitalized before PIJ gunmen 
took him away fearing that the IDF might seek his arrest. 
The IDF overnight August 23-24 arrested 24 Palestinians, 
mostly Hamas activists, in several localities in the West 
Bank. 
 
Humanitarian Update 
------------------- 
 
¶5.    (SBU) The Rafah crossing is closed August 24, according 
to USAID Gaza-based staff.  Rafah was last open on August 19. 
 
¶6.    (SBU) The Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing is closed 
August 23, according to USAID Gaza-based staff.  The crossing 
was last open August 15. 
 
¶7.    (SBU) The Sufa crossing is open August 24 for commodity 
imports, as it was August 23, according to USAID Gaza-based 
staff.  Sufa was last used for commodity imports in January 
¶2005.  The Erez crossing is open August 24 for commodity 
imports.  The Nahal Oz fuel transfer crossing is open August 
24, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. 
 
¶8.    (SBU) All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into 
Gaza are operational August 24, according to USAID Gaza-based 
staff. 
 
WALLES