Israeli High Court of Justice on Wednesday gave the state a green light to limit the supply of power and fuel to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, ruling that the reductions are "legal" as they still meet the humanitarian needs of Gaza population, local media reported.
The High Court rejected the petitions presented by several human rights groups against the Israeli limiting of the power and fuel supply to the Gaza Strip.
The judges noted that Israel has had no effective control over the Gaza Strip since September 2005, and therefore "is not obliged to care for the welfare of the Strip's residents or allow the transfer of unlimited amounts of goods and commodities."
They added, however, that Israel was obliged "to allow the supply of essential humanitarian aid," and must refrain from harming civilians on purpose.
The verdict was handed down by High Court President Dorit Beinisch, who said "the Gaza Strip is ruled by the murderous terrorist organization which operates relentlessly to harm Israel and its citizens, and violates every possible international guideline with its violent activities."
In response to continued Qassam rocket attacks by Palestinian militants on southern Israel, Defense Minister Ehud Barak last October accepted the defense establishment's recommendation to impose economic sanctions on Gaza, approving plans to reduce electricity, gasoline and diesel fuel supplies.
The Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, a leading opponent of the Gaza cuts, slammed the court decision as a "dangerous precedent."
In their petition, the human rights organizations claimed that by imposing a blockade on Gaza, Israel was "collectively punishing civilians, in violation of international law."
Source: Xinhua
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