JERUSALEM, Israel – On October 28, Israel confirmed that it began to restrict delivery of fuel to Gaza, pursuant to sanctions recently approved by Barak.  However, ten human rights groups have petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice to order Israel to freeze implementation of the sanctions.  The court rejected the petitioners’ demand for a freeze, but instead required the government to justify its decision by November 2.  According to the petitioners, the sanctions are a collective punishment that would cause “irreversible damage to the health and welfare of the residents of Gaza.”  While the court ordered Israel to justify the sanctions, they refrained from banning the sanctions completely.  In response to the court order, Israel’s Attorney General, Menachem Mazouz, suspended plans to restrict delivery of fuel and electricity to Gaza.  He stated that more research is required to implement the plan without causing a humanitarian crisis.

The European Union and United Nations criticized Israel’s decision to impose economic sanctions.  The European Union called the measures “collective punishment” and while noting the distressed caused by rocket attacks, stated that collective punishment is never the answer.  Also, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon repeated his call to militants to halt their rocket attacks but called Israel’s planned response to be “unacceptable.”

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Israeli AG halts electricity cut to Gaza – 30 October 2007

BBC – Gaza electricity cuts suspended – 30 October 2007

Ha’aretz – Mazuz prohibits punitive power cuts in Gaza Strip – 30 October 2007

Forbes – Court orders Israel to justify Gaza sanctions – 29 October 2007

Yedioth – Petition: Prevent reduction of Gaza fuel, electricity supply – 28 October 2007