Israel's supreme court has upheld a government decision to cut the Gaza Strip's fuel supply, but postponed planned electricity cuts to the Hamas-run territory, Israeli officials said on Friday. Israel started cutting the amount of fuel oil, diesel and petrol allowed into Gaza Strip last month as part of economic sanctions ordered in response to Palestinian rocket fire. The government said it would also start cutting power on Dec. 2.
The court, ruling late on Thursday, found in favour of the government's argument that fuel supplies for vital activities such as running Gaza Steip's sole power plant would be maintained. "We are convinced that, for now, there is no need to issue a stay ... especially as the (government) respondents undertook from the outset to ensure that the (fuel) reductions do not cause humanitarian harm," the panel of three justices wrote, according to Reuters.
But the court demanded that the government explain further its plan to reduce electricity supplies, extending deliberations on those sanctions by at least 19 days. Israel had planned to start power cuts on Sunday. But now the measure would be postponed.
According to Israeli and Palestinian officials, the Palestinian population in Gaza Strip uses some 200 megawatts of electricity, of which 120 are provided directly from Israeli power lines, 17 are delivered from Egypt, and 65 are generated at the local Palestinian plant.
