Israel to cut Palestinian electricity
Israel is planning to cut off Gaza electricity in a bid to deter Palestinians from firing rockets from the Gaza Strip, defence officials said yesterday.
The action will be taken as a pressure tactic every time one of the projectiles hits Israeli territory.
Israel provides more than half of Gaza’s electricity, and any power cut-off would make life more difficult for residents of the already impoverished territory – and draw harsh international criticism.
The cut-off would begin with short periods and gradually increase, the officials said, but it would not result in a total blackout.
Israel’s government last month declared Gaza a “hostile territory”, clearing the way for Israel to impose the sanctions. That decision followed the June takeover of the territory by the Islamic militants of Hamas and almost daily rocket fire by Gaza militants at towns in southern Israel.
Another rocket exploded on a home in the southern Israeli town of Sderot on Tuesday.
Yesterday, Israel’s deputy defence minister, Matan Vilnai, said it was time to increase pressure on the militants.
“It’s clear that we have to cut off ... the supply of electricity and the supply of fuel,” Vilnai told Israeli Army Radio. “We will dramatically reduce the flow of electricity from Israel over several weeks.”
