By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israel will begin to reduce the amount of electricity that it supplies to the Gaza Strip on Thursday as part of the punitive measures against the Islamic Hamas movement which rules the strip, local daily Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday on its website.
The power cutback was made possible after the Israeli High Court of Justice turned down appeals by several human rights groups against the planned sanctions last week, said the report.
According to a plan submitted to the High Court in answer to the appeals, Israel Defense Forces will reduce the flow of power in three of the ten power lines used to supply the Gaza with electricity.
“The defense minister is of the opinion that the continued reduction of fuel supplies, along with a cut to electricity flow and together with the range of combat operations that are being carried out, may assist Israel in the war it is waging against the terror organization that rules the strip,” the State Attorney’s office said in its response to the appeals.