US embassy cable - 05CAIRO7323

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 007323 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KPAL, PINS, IS, EG 
SUBJECT: STATUS OF GAZA-EGYPT BORDER: SEPTEMBER 20 
 
REF: A. CAIRO 7158 
 
     B. CAIRO 7210 
     C. CAIRO 7297 
 
Classified by ECPO MinCouns Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4(b) 
and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  Embassy officers at the Rafah border 
reported that the Egypt-Gaza border was sealed as of the 
morning of September 20.  Although the GOE allowed cross 
border traffic to continue through the day on September 19, 
they sealed the border wtih new barbed wife overnight.  As of 
1200 local on September 20, approximately 250-300 
Palestinians were waiting at several points along the border 
for guidance as to where they should go to reenter Gaza.  A 
contact at Rafah reported that by 1600, as many as 2,000 
Palestinians had gathered at the terminal, waiting for the 
border to reopen.  Egyptian police at the Rafah terminal 
report that they are ready to open that crossing pending the 
outcome of consultations with Palestinian authorities as to 
the procedures for future border crossings. The GOE continues 
to reinforce its Border Guard Force (BGF) infrastructure by 
establishing camps and moving armored personnel carriers into 
position.  End summary. 
 
2.  (C)  GOE officials claimed, and Embassy officers 
confirmed, that all pedestrian traffic had been stopped and 
the border sealed by September 20.  New barbed wire was put 
in place by the morning of September 20, there was no traffic 
through the border at all as of 1200 local.  More than 500 
BGF troops are at the border and BGF camps, including tents 
and latrines, are taking shape.  The GOE has deployed 15 
armored personnel carriers along the border.  From the roof 
of a building near the sealed Salah al Din gate, Embassy 
officers saw BGF officers positioned at approximately 20-30 
meter intervals.  Police officers near the Rafah terminal 
reported that they believe GOE officials are ready to start 
processing people through the Rafah terminal, but they have 
not yet received instructions to do so.  GOE officials noted 
that consultations with the Palestinian authorities 
concerning reopening the border are ongoing. 
 
3.  (C)  As of 1200, Embassy officers observed that 
approximately 250-300 Palestinians were waiting at various 
points along the border for guidance as to where they should 
go to reenter Gaza.  But a contact at the border reported 
that by 1600, as many as 2,000 Palestinians had gathered at 
Rafah in the expectation that the terminal would be reopened. 
 There is a growing sense of frustration among the waiting 
Palestinians, Embassy officers noted, as many had spent the 
night in their cars or in other makeshift accommodation.  A 
police officer near the Rafah terminal told Embassy officers 
that he believes as many as 4,000 Palestinians who crossed 
the border last week are still in Egypt.  But others 
estimated the numbers to be much lower (1,000). Embassy 
officers have not seen any evidence or heard from GOE 
officials that the number of Palestinians who entered Egypt 
last week approached 200,000, as reported in the Egyptian 
press. 
 
 
Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. 
 
JONES