VZCZCXRO4112
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0103/01 0111147
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111147Z JAN 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3801
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JERUSALEM 000103 
 
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 11, 2009, 1300 LOCAL 
 
REF:  JERUSALEM 101 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  Israeli military operations continued January 
10-11, primarily in northern Gaza. IDF troops moved closer to the 
urban centers of Gaza City and Khan Yunis.  Airstrikes caused a 
number of casualties, including civilians, mostly in northern Gaza. 
Gaza-based medical sources reported an estimated 854 dead and 3,400 
wounded since hostilities began.  A humanitarian pause is underway 
from 1100-1400 local.  HAMAS Political Bureau Chief Khalid Mishaal 
delivered a speech January 10 rejecting international forces in Gaza 
and calling for an end to Israeli military operations, the 
withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza, and the opening of all crossing 
points.  West Bank PLC members used a January 10 press conference in 
Ramallah to criticize the PA for limiting the right to demonstrate 
in support of Gazans.  End summary. 
 
Ground Operations Continue, 
Focus in Northern Gaza 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Gaza-based sources, local press, and the UN reported that 
the IDF continued ground operations January 10-11 in the same 
general areas in which it operated throughout the week, killing at 
least 11 militants January 10-11. The IDF moved closer to Gaza City 
and continued to operate around Khan Yunis. 
 
 -- NORTHERN GAZA:  Gaza-based press reported that the IDF clashed 
with militants and continued to shell houses around Bayt Lahiya, 
Bayt Hanun, and Jabaliya, killing at least one militant in Bayt 
Lahiya and two children, and wounding several Palestinians January 
10-11. 
 
 -- GAZA CITY:  Gaza-based press reported heavy fighting the morning 
of January 11 in outlying neighborhoods of Gaza City.  The IDF 
killed ten militants in the Shaykh Ajleen neighborhood of southwest 
Gaza City, which until now had not seen fighting.  Fighting 
continued in al-Zaytun neighborhood, and shelling and helicopter 
attacks occurred throughout Gaza City. 
 
 -- CENTRAL GAZA:  Gaza-based press reported an unspecified number 
of al-Balbisi family members were killed in Nusayrat refugee camps 
the evening of January 10. 
 
 -- SOUTHERN GAZA:  Gaza-based press reported that the IDF 
surrounded and entered the Khuza'a village southeast of Khan Yunis 
and engaged militants there the morning of January 11.  Artillery 
shelling killed one man and injured three in Rafah. Shelling in two 
southern Gaza villages killed one woman and set 15 houses on fire. 
Fifty people were treated for burns and gas inhalation, according to 
Gaza-based medical sources. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The UN reported that the IDF maintained positions in the 
following areas on January 11, but no fighting was reported. 
 
 -- NORTHERN GAZA:  IDF troops maintained their position in the area 
of the Erez crossing. 
 
 -- CENTRAL GAZA:  IDF troops maintained their position east of Johr 
al-Dik, northeast of al-Burayj, and east of Abu al-Ajeen, near Dayr 
al-Balah. 
 
 -- SOUTHERN GAZA:  Local press reported that IDF troops maintained 
their position east of the defunct Rafah airport. 
 
Airstrikes Continue 
------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Gaza-based sources, local press, and the UN reported 
that the IAF struck at least 60 targets January 10-11, killing an 
estimated 21 and wounding at least 33 others.  Most of the targets 
were in and around Gaza City and in Rafah.  The IAF dropped leaflets 
over Gaza City and the Beach (Shati) refugee camp, warning 
Palestinians to leave the area in advance of increased hostilities. 
 
 -- NORTHERN GAZA:  Gaza-based press reported that IAF airstrikes 
January 10-11 killed two Palestinians in Jabaliya, and the UN 
reported that one man was killed while riding a donkey in Jabaliya. 
Press also reported that three people were killed and ten wounded 
during an airstrike on the al-Salman home in Bayt Lahiya.  Two 
sisters from the al-Hilu family were killed in another airstrike in 
Bayt Lahiya. 
 
 -- GAZA CITY:  Gaza-based press reported that IAF airstrikes the 
evening of January 10 killed four and injured nine in the Burj 
al-Sultan area, and two separate strikes in the Shaykh Radwan 
neighborhood killed a total of four and wounded nine Palestinians. 
Press also reported one killed and four wounded by airstrikes in the 
Beach (Shati) refugee camp, west of Gaza City.  The UN reported that 
 
JERUSALEM 00000103  002 OF 003 
 
 
one Palestinian was killed in an airstrike while walking down 
Palestine Street in Gaza City. 
 
 -- CENTRAL GAZA:  Israeli press reported that an IAF airstrike 
January 11 killed two militants driving on a coastal road. 
 
 -- SOUTHERN GAZA:  Press reported that IAF airstrikes January 10-11 
killed at least one militant and wounded one other in Rafah while 
targeting homes near the Egyptian border. 
 
Rocket Fire Causes Injuries 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Press reported at least three rockets fired into Israel 
from Gaza on January 11 as of 1300 local, sending two Israelis into 
shock.  One of them was a Grad rocket.  Press reported at least 22 
Qassam rockets and a few Grad rockets were fired from Gaza on 
January 10, wounding 14 people moderately or lightly and sending 27 
into shock. 
 
Casualties 
---------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Gaza-based medical sources told the press that at least 
854 Palestinians have been killed since hostilities began through 
January 11 (including 265 children, 93 women, 57 "elderly," 12 
paramedics, and three journalists), and that more than 3,400 people 
have been injured requiring medical treatment.  Press reported 
separately IDF statements that at least 300 militants have been 
killed.  Gaza-based medical sources reiterated concerns that many 
bodies are unreachable due to hostilities. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Israeli media reported several soldiers were wounded from 
January 10-11. 
 
Humanitarian Situation 
---------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) A humanitarian pause was underway January 11 from 
1100-1400 local.  Kerem Shalom and Nahal Oz were both open January 
11, and Erez was open for humanitarian cases.  The Karni/al-Mintar 
crossing was closed on January 11.  UNRWA reported opening four new 
emergency shelters, for a total of 31 shelters serving 25,696 
displaced persons.  ICRC reported one of its vehicles was fired on 
by Israeli forces in Gaza January 10. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Humanitarian supplies purchased by USAID are scheduled to 
move to Gaza on January 11 with the assistance of UNRWA. The Consul 
General and USAID and ConGen staff visited URNWA's Jerusalem 
warehouse on January 10 to oversee the loading of supplies. 
 
Political Developments 
---------------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) HAMAS Political Bureau Chief Khaled Mishaal in a press 
conference January 10 described HAMAS's demands as:  1. an immediate 
end to Israeli military operations; 2. an immediate Israeli 
withdrawal from Gaza; 3. an end to the "siege" of Gaza; and 4. the 
opening of all crossings into Gaza, foremost Rafah.  He rejected a 
"permanent" calm, saying that HAMAS would continue "resistance." 
Mishaal said HAMAS rejected international forces in Gaza and would 
treat them as occupiers.  He hailed HAMAS fighters in Gaza and 
called on Abbas to initiate Palestinian reconciliation, release 
prisoners and allow demonstrations in the West Bank. 
 
WEST BANK REACTION AND SECURITY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  (SBU) PLC members in the West Bank issued two statements 
January 10, criticizing the PA for restricting West Bankers' right 
to demonstrate against Israeli operations in Gaza.  One statement 
referenced the PASF intervention in a January 9 rally, where PASF 
officers reportedly assaulted and detained protesters.  Hanan 
Ashrawi and Mustafa Barghuti led the groups issuing the statements. 
Peaceful protests were planned in Ramallah, Nablus, and Qalqilya for 
January 11. 
 
¶12.  (SBU) An unknown group distributed leaflets in Hebron calling 
President Abbas and the PASF collaborators.  The al-Aqsa Martyrs 
Brigades distributed a leaflet in Jalazone refugee camp, calling for 
armed struggle in the West Bank. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) Palestinians were wounded in clashes with the IDF in 
several areas in the West Bank, and the IDF arrested 13 Palestinians 
overnight.  Protesters threw rocks at PASF forces in one town, and 
the PASF arrested three HAMAS members from a village near Hebron. 
 
 -- Two Palestinians were injured in clashes with the IDF in 
 
JERUSALEM 00000103  003 OF 003 
 
 
Hebron; 
 
 -- a fourteen-year-old boy was shot in the neck reportedly by live 
fire, in Bayt Awwa during clashes with the IDF near the separation 
wall; and 
 
 -- a protester was shot by the IDF in Siir village, also reportedly 
by live fire. 
 
WALLES