VZCZCXRO3949
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0101/01 0101255
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101255Z JAN 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3797
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000101 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA, NSC FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL/RAMCHAND 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KWBG PTER MOPS PHUM PREF IS
SUBJECT: GAZA UPDATE JANUARY 10, 2009, 1300 LOCAL 
 
REF:  JERUSALEM 91 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  President Abbas, in a press conference with 
President Mubarak January 10, called on HAMAS and Israel to accept 
the UNSC resolution immediately and said the Egyptian proposal is 
the means to implement the resolution.  He said Palestinian 
reconciliation is necessary, but that peace -- not resistance -- 
should be the goal.  He also said the PA wants an international 
presence in Gaza.  Israeli military operations continued January 
9-10 in northern Gaza, Khan Yunis and Rafah, with the heaviest 
fighting taking place on the outskirts of Gaza City.  The IDF moved 
closer to urban centers in Gaza City and Khan Yunis, and maintained 
positions throughout the Gaza Strip.  Airstrikes in Gaza City and 
Rafah damaged homes, tunnels, workshops, and, in one incident, a 
building housing several media offices.  Gaza-based medical sources 
reported as many as 801 dead and 3325 wounded since hostilities 
began.  A humanitarian pause is underway from 1300-1600, but 
fighting continues.  UNRWA and ICRC say they will resume movement 
inside Gaza "as soon as possible," like on Sunday.  End summary. 
 
Political Developments 
---------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) In a press conference in Cairo January 10, President Abbas 
called on HAMAS and Israel to accept the UNSC resolution immediately 
and said the Egyptian proposal is the mechanism to implement it.  He 
said the PA wants international forces in Gaza.  He denied that a 
meeting with Israeli PM Olmert is in the works.  Abu Mazen said 
HAMAS is part of the Palestinian people, adding that peace -- not 
resistance -- should be the Palestinians' goal, and that Palestinian 
reconciliation will be necessary after the crisis. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) A HAMAS delegation arrived in Cairo January 9 to discuss 
the Egyptian proposal with senior Egyptian officials.  HAMAS 
Political Bureau member Muhammad Nazal told the press that all 
crossings into Gaza must be opened. 
 
Ground Operation Continues, 
Focus in Northern Gaza 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Gaza-based sources, local press, and the UN report that 
the IDF continued operations January 9-10 in roughly the same areas 
in which it operated throughout the week, killing at least 15 
militants and as many as ten others overnight and wounding roughly 
37 Palestinians. 
 
 -- NORTHERN GAZA:  The UN and Gaza-based sources reported that the 
IDF clashed with militants and shelled houses around Bayt Lahiya, 
Bayt Hanun, and Jabaliya, killing at least one woman in Bayt Lahiya. 
 Three soldiers from the Givati brigade were wounded during 
operations in northern Gaza.  IDF forces in the area uncovered a 
laboratory and tunnel where weapons were manufactured and stored, 
according to Israeli radio. 
 
 -- GAZA CITY:  Gaza-based media reported heavy fighting into the 
morning of January 10 on the outskirts of Gaza City.  A journalist 
and his mother were killed by tank fire and at least five homes were 
destroyed in the al-Zaytun neighborhood south of Gaza City. 
Gaza-based sources also reported clashes in Shujaiya and al-Tufah 
neighborhoods.  The IDF advanced several hundred meters into the 
Sudaniya neighborhood in northern Gaza City. 
 
 -- CENTRAL GAZA:  The UN reported that IDF troops engaged militants 
near the former settlement of Netzarim when the troops crossed Zahra 
City, northwest of the Nusayrat refugee camp. 
 
 -- KHAN YUNIS:  IDF troops advanced several hundred meters toward 
Khan Yunis and engaged militants there and in Abasan, according 
Gaza-based contacts. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The UN reported that the IDF maintained the positions in 
the following areas, but no fighting was reported. 
 
-- CENTRAL GAZA:  IDF troops maintained their position east of Johr 
al-Dik, northeast of al-Burayj.  IDF troops maintained their 
position east of Abu al-Ajeen, east of Dayr al-Balah. 
 
-- SOUTHERN GAZA:  IDF troops maintained their position east of the 
defunct Rafah airport. 
 
Airstrikes and Naval Barrage Continue 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Gaza-based sources, local press, and the UN reported 
that the IAF and Israeli Navy struck at least 40 targets January 
9-10, including rocket launching areas, metal workshops, tunnels, 
and homes.  Most of the targets were in and around Gaza City and in 
 
JERUSALEM 00000101  002 OF 002 
 
 
Rafah near the Egyptian border, with others reported in northern and 
central Gaza. 
 
 -- NORTHERN GAZA:  Gaza-based press reported an estimated seven 
family members dead from an IAF attack on their home in Jabaliya. 
 
 -- GAZA CITY:  The IAF January 9 struck the roof of a building in 
Gaza City that housed 20 media offices, injuring one journalist, 
according to press.  Gaza-based press reported that the IAF January 
10 struck the Civil Defense Headquarters in Gaza City, destroying 
the building.  Gaza-based sources reported that the IAF destroyed 
several workshops along unspecified portions of Salah al-Din Street 
in Gaza City. 
 
 -- CENTRAL GAZA:  At least one Palestinian was killed and seven 
wounded when the IAF struck a home in al-Nusayrat refugee camp, 
according to Gaza-based press. 
 
 -- SOUTHERN GAZA:  The IAF January 10 struck a disused HAMAS 
security compound in Khan Yunis.  An estimated three HAMAS militants 
were killed and six houses destroyed in IAF strikes in Rafah. 
 
Rocket Fire Causes Two Injuries 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Press reported at least ten rockets fired into Israel from 
Gaza on January 10 as of 1300 local, injuring five and sending 19 
Israelis into shock.  Press reported at least 30 rockets and mortars 
were fired from Gaza on January 9, lightly injuring one man and 
sending several Israelis into shock.  The IDF denied a HAMAS claim 
to have struck an IAF base 27 kilometers from Tel Aviv. 
 
Casualties 
---------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Gaza-based medical sources told the press that at least 
801 Palestinians have been killed since hostilities began through 
January 10 (including 257 children, 93 women, 57 "elderly," 12 
paramedics, and three journalists), and that 3,325 people have been 
injured requiring medical treatment. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Israeli media reported several soldiers were wounded from 
January 9-10. 
 
Humanitarian Situation 
---------------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) UNRWA said it was informed by noon of a humanitarian 
pause that would take place from 1300-1600 local on January 10.  The 
UN announced that it would resume activity in Gaza "as soon as 
possible" after receiving credible assurances January 9 that the IDF 
would respect the security of UN personnel and equipment.  ICRC 
stated that it will continue key activities in Gaza -- such as the 
work of its surgical team at al-Shifa Hospital -- but that it will 
not conduct relief convoys.  The UN reported that over 24,000 Gazans 
are currently displaced. 
 
WALLES