Telling the Israeli High Court that Israel must wage “economic warfare” on Gaza, the Israeli DMin. announces plans to cut electricity to Gaza by 5% beginning on 2/7 and to continue restricting fuel shipments, though it will allow weekly EU-funded deliveries of industrial fuel to keep Gaza’s power plant operating at a level to meet “minimum humanitarian criteria.” Meanwhile, Egypt blocks deliveries to Egyptian Rafah, hoping that Palestinians will return to Gaza if there is nothing to buy. The IDF makes an air strike on a Hamas-affiliated police post nr. Rafah, damaging 2 cars, 8 nearby homes, and a mosque but causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and Hebron, in Jenin town and r.c. (WP 1/28; OCHA 1/30; PCHR 1/31)
Sunday, January 27, 2008