Israel to cut off electricity and fuel to Gaza

Israeli Minister Ehud Barak is expected this week to approve a gradual severance of the supply of electricity and fuel to the Gaza Strip in response to persistent rocket fire from the Palestinian territory, military officials said yesterday.

The plan formulated by a senior team lead by Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai will be approved by Barak on Thursday, the officials said on condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to talk to the press. It was not immediately clear when the decision would take effect.

"It's clear that we have to cut off ... the supply of electricity and the supply of fuel," Vilnai told Army Radio yesterday. "We will dramatically reduce the flow of electricity from Israel over several weeks."

Israel start by cutting electricity for 15 minutes, then a half hour, and then increase the time each day as long as rocket fire continues, the military officials said.

The proposal calls for Israel not to cut off the power supply to hospitals and other vital installations in an effort to avoid a humanitarian crisis, Vilnai said.

The intent is to force the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip to stop the constant rocket fire, Vilnai said. The barrages disrupt life in the south.

Olmert's Cabinet had declared the impoverished strip where 1.4 million Palestinians live "hostile territory" in September, clearing legal hurdles for a possible cutoff of electricity.

Israel severely restricted the flow of cargo and people through Gaza's crossings since the violent Islamic Hamas took control of the coastal strip in June.