In a move which many observers say is a violation of the Geneva Convention Israel began cutting off gasoline and other fuels to the Gaza strip in an effort to put pressure on the ruling Hamas party, which seized power in a coup.
The government of Ehud Olmert, Israeli Prime Minister, has declared the strip an "enemy territroy" and has tried to isolate Hamas by imposing a
near-complete embargo on the territory.
While fuel cuts have been allowed to go forward the
High Court has ordered Olmert's government to delay plans to reduce electrical power supplies to 1.5 million residents of the Gaza Strip
The strategy of cutting power has been criticised by international humanitarian organisations and claims have been made that they violate
Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention rules against the mass punishment of a population.
Israel is a signatory of the Convention.
Israel has supplied Gaza with electricity ever since its troops
destroyed the only power station in the territory in raids launched in retaliation for the kidnap of an Israeli soldier in June of 2006. Although the soldier had been kidnapped by a small group of militants Israel decided to punish the entire population of the Strip for the actions of a few.
The
High Court has delayed electricity cut backs since it is still hearing testimony on the justifications and possible humanitarian impact of such reductions and says that it will rule on the matter when it has more information.
Even without the electrical cutbacks Israel's fuel restrictions have thrown the area's
economy into turmoil. Although residents have been stockpiling fuel for weeks they fear that they will run out if the embargo goes on for very long.
Although Israel claims that the restrictions are a justified response to continued rocket attacks by isolated groups working in the Gaza strip international law and the customs of war have long forbidden collective punishment of entire populations in retaliation for the acts of a few. Article 50 of the
Laws and Customs of War on Land (Hague IV); October 18, 1907
No general penalty, pecuniary or otherwise, shall be inflicted upon the population on account of the acts of individuals for which they cannot be regarded as jointly and severally responsible.
