By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israel will begin to carry out its plan to cut off the electricity supply to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip as early as Sunday or Monday after the court system gives the government its final authorization, Israel Radio reported on Saturday.
According to the report, the government will discuss steps in which it will deal with the deposed Hamas government in the Gaza Strip during a weekly cabinet meeting to be held on Sunday.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday approved cutting electricity to the Gaza Strip in response to the escalation in Palestinian militants’ rocket fire against Israel.
On Friday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he would not cause a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip by not cutting off the power to hospitals.
A press release from the Israeli military said on Saturday that Palestinians fired approximately 80 rockets and mortar shells into Israel in September. In addition, in 2007 approximately 80 explosive devices were discovered.
The press release also confirmed that in Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip since Friday night, Israeli troops identified hitting seven Palestinian militants in the Strip.
While Palestinian militants fired several anti-tank missiles and opened fire at the forces in several different incidents.
The Israeli military said it would “continue to defend the citizens of the state of Israel against continued terrorist attacks.”