Israel: Flouts International Law

Israel: Flouts International Law - yet again!

The world sits by and watches as Israel, yet again, flouts international law. Not a murmur of condemnation. Just a tutting tutting! The time has surely come when the world must say to Israel - enough is enough! To say that Israel is becoming a renegade State, openly cocking its nose at international law and convention, is probably now an under-statement.

Israel's latest action is that it will collectively punish the people of Gaza by either restricting, or cutting off altogether, electricity and water, to the already devastated territory.

BBC News reports:

"Israel's defence minister has approved sanctions against Gaza, including cuts in the supply of electricity and fuel to try to halt rocket attacks.

Ehud Barak authorised the cuts, which are expected to follow immediately after rocket attacks are launched.

Palestinian leaders say the measure amounts to collective punishment.

Israel supplies 60% of the electricity for Gaza's 1.5 million inhabitants - but last month Israel declared Gaza a "hostile entity".

By formally declaring Gaza "hostile", Israel argues it is no longer bound by international law governing the administration of occupied territory to supply utilities to the civilian population.

But the position accepted by the international community is that Israel remains legally responsible for the coastal strip, despite withdrawing two years ago, because it still controls Gaza's borders, airspace and territorial waters.

Israel imposed an economic embargo on Gaza after the Islamist militant group, Hamas, seized control from the rival Fatah group in June. It is also limiting the movement of people in and out of the territory.

But the top United Nations humanitarian official has now urged Israel to lift its economic blockade of the Gaza Strip."

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