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| Israelis declare Gaza 'hostile' | Israelis declare Gaza 'hostile' |
| (10 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 last Tuesday, injuring 69 troops. | Israeli public pressure for retaliation has grown since a rocket hit an army base last Tuesday, 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. | 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 |
| "Additional restrictions will be imposed on the Hamas regime, limiting the transfer of goods to the Gaza Strip, cutting back fuel and electricity, and restricting the movement of people to and from the strip," a statement said. | |
| The sanctions will be implemented "following a legal review" to examine the legal and humanitarian consequences, the statement 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. |
| Gaza's rocket threat to Israel Profile: Gaza Strip | Gaza's rocket threat to Israel 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. |
| The Palestinian Information Minister, Riyad al-Malki, said the Palestinian Authority would ask the US to "pressure Israel to refrain from taking such action". | |
| 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. |