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| Israelis declare Gaza 'hostile' | |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The Israeli government has declared the Gaza Strip a "hostile entity" in response to the continued rocket attacks by Palestinian militants there. | The Israeli government has declared the Gaza Strip a "hostile entity" in response to the continued rocket attacks by Palestinian militants there. |
| The decision could lead to Israel cutting off vital water, fuel or electricity supplies to the territory. | The decision could lead to Israel cutting off vital water, fuel or electricity supplies to the territory. |
| The militant group, Hamas, which controls Gaza, said such a move would be considered a declaration of war. | The militant group, Hamas, which controls Gaza, said such a move would be considered a declaration of war. |
| Israeli public pressure for retaliation has grown since a rocket hit an army base two weeks ago, injuring 69 troops. | Israeli public pressure for retaliation has grown since a rocket hit an army base two weeks ago, injuring 69 troops. |
| Palestinian militant groups say the rocket fire is a response to Israeli military action in Gaza and the West Bank. | Palestinian militant groups say the rocket fire is a response to Israeli military action in Gaza and the West Bank. |
| Israel announced its decision as the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, arrived in Jerusalem for talks about re-starting the Middle East peace process. | |
| International law | International law |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said his security cabinet had approved the "hostile entity" classification at a meeting on Wednesday morning. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said his security cabinet had approved the "hostile entity" classification at a meeting on Wednesday morning. |
| It is a declaration of war and continues the criminal, terrorist Zionist actions against our people Fawzi BarhoumHamas spokesman | It is a declaration of war and continues the criminal, terrorist Zionist actions against our people Fawzi BarhoumHamas spokesman |
| A spokesperson told the Reuters news agency that there would be "limitations on imports to the Gaza Strip and a reduction in the supply of fuel and electricity". | A spokesperson told the Reuters news agency that there would be "limitations on imports to the Gaza Strip and a reduction in the supply of fuel and electricity". |
| The sanctions will be implemented after Israeli authorities have examined the legal and humanitarian consequences, the spokesperson added. | The sanctions will be implemented after Israeli authorities have examined the legal and humanitarian consequences, the spokesperson added. |
| Israeli officials reportedly hope the new measures will put pressure on Hamas, which ousted its rivals Fatah to seize control of Gaza in June, to halt rocket attacks on southern Israel. | Israeli officials reportedly hope the new measures will put pressure on Hamas, which ousted its rivals Fatah to seize control of Gaza in June, to halt rocket attacks on southern Israel. |
| "The objective is to weaken Hamas," Defence Minister Ehud Barak said at the meeting, an Israeli official told the Associated Press. | "The objective is to weaken Hamas," Defence Minister Ehud Barak said at the meeting, an Israeli official told the Associated Press. |
| href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3702088.stm">Gaza's rocket threat to Israel class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5122404.stm">Profile: Gaza Strip | |
| A spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, Fawzi Barhoum, condemned the decision. | A spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, Fawzi Barhoum, condemned the decision. |
| "It is a declaration of war and continues the criminal, terrorist Zionist actions against our people," he said. | "It is a declaration of war and continues the criminal, terrorist Zionist actions against our people," he said. |
| "They aim to starve our people and force them to accept humiliating formulas that could emerge from the so-called November peace conference," he added, referring to the US-sponsored talks expected later this year. | "They aim to starve our people and force them to accept humiliating formulas that could emerge from the so-called November peace conference," he added, referring to the US-sponsored talks expected later this year. |
| Correspondents say that by formally declaring Gaza "hostile", Israel could argue that it is no longer bound by international law governing the administration of occupied territory to supply utilities to its 1.5 million inhabitants. | Correspondents say that by formally declaring Gaza "hostile", Israel could argue that it is no longer bound by international law governing the administration of occupied territory to supply utilities to its 1.5 million inhabitants. |
| But the current position is that, under international law, Israel remains legally responsible for the coastal strip, despite withdrawing two years ago, because it still controls Gaza's borders, air space and territorial waters. | But the current position is that, under international law, Israel remains legally responsible for the coastal strip, despite withdrawing two years ago, because it still controls Gaza's borders, air space and territorial waters. |