By KINA
New York : Human Rights Watch on Monday blasted Israel’s decision to limit fuel and electricity to the Gaza Strip in retaliation for “unlawful” rocket attacks by armed groups saying it amounts to “collective punishment” against the civilian population of Gaza, contravenes international law, and will worsen the humanitarian crisis there. “Israel may respond to rocket attacks by armed groups to protect its population, but only in lawful ways,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East division. “Because Israel remains an occupying power, in light of its continuing restrictions on Gaza,” she explained, “Israel must not take measures that harm the civilian population – yet that is precisely what cutting fuel or electricity for even short periods will do.” While an Israeli government spokesman said on Sunday that the plan was to cut the amount of fuel by 5 to 11 percent, Palestinian officials said fuel shipments into Gaza yesterday fell by more than 30 percent.