The Israeli Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an appeal to block Israel from further reducing supplies of fuel and electricity to the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government had argued that the more limited amount of fuel it intends to allow through met the basic humanitarian needs of GazaÂ’s population while exacting a widely felt price among ordinary Gazans for the continual firing of rockets and mortars into Israel by Palestinian militants. Israel hopes such a policy will create popular pressure to force the Hamas rulers of Gaza and other militant groups to stop the rocket fire.
A group of 10 human rights groups had together petitioned the court to prevent the fuel cuts, arguing that Israel had a legal obligation under international law to supply the citizens of Gaza. They contended that the cuts “deliberately violate the rights of civilians in Gaza” and constitute “collective punishment” in violation of international law by “deliberately targeting civilians.” But the court president, Dorit Beinisch, said in a ruling that “the Gaza Strip is controlled by a murderous terror group that operates incessantly to strike the state of Israel and its citizens, and violates every precept of international law with its violent actions.”