VZCZCXRO2158
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0075/01 0081201
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081201Z JAN 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3751
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000075 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
S/ES-O FOR SECRETARY'S PARTY IN NEW YORK, NSC FOR 
ABRAMS/PASCUAL/RAMCHAND, NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KWBG PTER MOPS IS
SUBJECT: GAZA UPDATE JANUARY 8, 2009, 1300 LOCAL 
 
REF:  (A) JERUSALEM 61 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  The IDF maintained its positions on January 8 
and continued operations around Gaza City and Rafah.  Up to 10,000 
Palestinians from Rafah evacuated their homes in response to 
leaflets warning of impending operations in the area.  A 
humanitarian pause began at 1300.  Three rockets from Lebanon 
lightly injured two Israelis.  Gaza-based health officials reported 
702 dead (45 percent civilians) and 3,100 wounded  since hostilities 
broke out. 
 
Ground Operation Continues 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Gaza-based sources and local press reported that the IDF 
continued operations around Gaza City January 7-8.  IDF units 
maintained their position near the defunct Rafah airport and 
northeast of al-Burayj refugee camp and moved to the outskirts of 
al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Yunis. 
 
 -- In southern Gaza, the IDF engaged militants on the outskirts of 
al-Qarara the night of January 7, killing at least one, but no IDF 
activity was reported inside the urban area of Khan Yunis; 
 
 -- Palestinian workers at the Erez crossing came under IDF tank 
fire the morning of January 8, killing one and wounding two; 
 
 -- the IDF continued to operate around the towns of Bayt Lahiya and 
Bayt Hanun January 8, reportedly killing a family of four in their 
car in Bayt Lahiya; and 
 
 -- the IDF continued to operate around the Jabaliya refugee camp, 
east of Gaza City, and south of the city. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The PA President's Office told PolSpec that as many as 
10,000 Palestinians evacuated their homes in southern Rafah in 
response to leaflets dropped by Israeli aircraft January 7, warning 
the residents of impending ground and air operations near the 
Egyptian border.  Palestinian media reported up to 16,000 displaced 
persons in the area, many of whom took shelter in UNRWA schools. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) ICRC reported that PRCS ambulances evacuated 30 
Palestinians from the Zaytun neighborhood in Gaza City during the 
January 7 humanitarian pause.  Ambulances removed two of at least 15 
corpses from the area, saying that more dead and wounded remain. 
ICRC issued a public statement noting that the IDF failed to meet 
its obligation under international humanitarian law to care for and 
evacuate the wounded. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) A humanitarian pause began at 1300 and is expected to last 
for three hours. 
 
Airstrikes Continue 
------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Gaza-based sources and local press reported that the IAF 
struck 60 targets January 7-8, hitting homes, two mosques, and 
several HAMAS-controlled security installations (many of which had 
previously been hit).  At least three militants were killed and a 
dozen Palestinians wounded in these attacks.  Targets included: 
 
 -- homes in Rafah along the border area on the morning of January 
8, in which at least one elderly man was killed; 
 
 -- homes of HAMAS commanders in Rafah and Khan Yunis; and 
 
 -- twenty airstrikes in and around Gaza City before dawn on January 
¶8. 
 
Rocket Fire Causes Two Injuries 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Israeli media reported three rockets fired from Lebanon 
struck northern Israel on the morning of January 8, wounding two and 
sending several people into shock.  The IDF fired five artillery 
shells into Lebanon in response.  These are the first rockets fired 
from Lebanon during this operation. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Israeli media reported at least 13 rockets fired into 
Israel from Gaza before 1300 local on January 8.  Reports said a 
total of 25 rockets were fired from Gaza on January 7. 
 
Casualties 
---------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Gaza-based health officials reported as of January 8 that 
702 people have been killed since hostilities began, including 219 
 
JERUSALEM 00000075  002 OF 002 
 
 
children, 89 women, and 12 paramedics.  Palestinian medical contacts 
in Gaza and local press report that 24 Palestinians were killed on 
January 7. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Israeli media reported seven soldiers killed in action 
and 104 wounded since hostilities began. 
 
West Bank Reactions and Security 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Demonstrations continued in towns throughout the West 
Bank and in East Jerusalem on January 8.  Israeli police shot and 
killed a Palestinian man who was trying to set fire to a gas station 
near Ma'ale Adumim. 
 
WALLES