JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israel's high court on Friday ruled that the state could continue with month-long fuel cuts to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, but ordered a delay on plans to reduce electricity supplies too, officials said.
The rulings came in response to a petition by 10 Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups, who had called the moves to limit Gaza energy supplies an act of illegal collective punishment that endangered civilians.
On the issue of fuel, the court said that it was possible to reduce supplies without affecting the humanitarian situation in the impoverished territory that is home to 1.5 million Palestinians, the groups said.
The court, however, ordered the military to provide information to back its claims that the power cuts will not harm vital systems like hospitals, the Gisha Legal Centre, one the groups who filed the petition, said in a statement.
Israel had planned to start reducing electricity into Gaza on Sunday.
It will now likely hold off as judges said they "presume" the restrictions will not be implemented until their final decision, said Sari Bashi, a Gisha spokeswoman.
Israeli moves to cut fuel and electricity to Gaza have been slammed by both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, while the European Union has expressed "concern."
In its ruling on fuel, the high court said that "we do not accept the petitioners' argument that there is no way to ensure that the fuel provided will indeed be used for humanitarian needs," Ynet quoted the decision as saying.
"Under the current circumstances, if the distribution of fuel is controlled and prioritised in a way that puts humanitarian needs first, it would appear that the amount provided even after the cutback will be enough to satisfy these needs."
Israel -- which supplies all fuel and majority of electricity to Gaza -- began restricting fuel shipments to the territory on October 28, saying the move was in response to continuing rocket fire.
The fuel cuts continued while the supreme court examined the appeal, as justices never ordered them to stop, Bashi said.
Following Friday's ruling, the petitioning groups slammed the decision on fuel and cautiously welcomed the one on electricity.
"We are extremely concerned about the continued fuel cuts, which constitute illegal collective punishment," Gisha said in a statement.
"Gaza's civilians have no way to defend themselves against the disruptions in vital humanitarian services, because they can receive fuel and essential goods only via Israel, which controls Gaza's borders -- land, air and sea."
On Thursday, Gaza industry officials warned of a crisis unless Israel allows in more fuel, saying that 70 percent of all petrol stations in Gaza do not have enough supplies.
Ismail Haniya, who headed a government later dismissed by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, told reporters in Gaza on Friday that the court ruling was "dangerous" and aimed to "increase the siege on Gaza."
After Hamas, which refuses to recognise Israel and renounce violence, seized control in Gaza in mid-June, Israel has further tightened restrictions on the movement of goods and people into the territory from which it withdrew settlers and troops in 2005.
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