Trucks headed for Strip
Photo: AP
Lights out in Gaza
Photo: AP
High Court approves limiting Gaza power supply
Judges rule that Israel is not obligated to care for welfare of Strip's residents, add Gaza controlled by murderous terrorist organization bent on hurting Israelis
The High Court of Justice rejected Wednesday the petitions against the limiting of power and fuel supply to the Gaza Strip.
Siege
Roni Sofer
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The judges noted that Israel has had no effective control over the Gaza Strip since September 2005, and that therefore "it is not obligated 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".
The ruling was issued in response to a petition by the Adalah and Gisha organizations, which asked for an injunction ordering Israel to open the crossings to Gaza and supply diesel fuel to the Strip.
In their petition, the organizations claimed that by imposing a blockade on Gaza, Israel was "collectively punishing civilians, in violation of international law."
However, the judges explained that the in legal terms, Israel's actions were in conjunction with local and international law. They stressed that "in times of war, the civilian population is… the first and most prominent victim of the fighting, even when efforts to reduce the harm done to it are carried out."
The court also stated that the Gaza Strip was being controlled by a murderous terrorist organization, which was tirelessly working against the State of Israel and its citizens, while breaking every possible rule of international law in its violent actions, "which indiscriminately target civilians – men, women and children."
While the judges stated that Israel must refrain from harming civilians on purpose, they noted that the amounts of fuel and electricity Israel planned to supply the Strip with should be enough to meet Gaza's humanitarian needs.
