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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Israelis declare Gaza 'hostile' | Israelis declare Gaza 'hostile' |
| (about 2 hours 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. |
| Israeli officials told the BBC fuel and electricity supplies could be targeted, but not water, food or medicine. | Israeli officials told the BBC fuel and electricity supplies could be targeted, but not water, food or medicine. |
| 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. |
| In Jerusalem, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also said the US considered Hamas a "hostile entity". | In Jerusalem, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also said the US considered Hamas a "hostile entity". |
| But she added that the US "would not abandon the innocent Palestinians" of Gaza. | But she added that the US "would not abandon the innocent Palestinians" of Gaza. |
| Ms Rice arrived in Jerusalem on Wednesday for talks about re-starting the Middle East peace process. | Ms Rice arrived in Jerusalem on Wednesday for talks about re-starting the Middle East peace process. |
| Israeli public pressure for retaliation has grown since a rocket fired from Gaza hit an army base last Tuesday, injuring 69 troops. | Israeli public pressure for retaliation has grown since a rocket fired from Gaza 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. |
| 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7003294.stm">Israel's limited options | |
| "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. | "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. | 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 news agency. | "The objective is to weaken Hamas," Defence Minister Ehud Barak said at the meeting, an Israeli official told the Associated Press news agency. |
| 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". | 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. |
| The Israeli cabinet's move will only be seen by Palestinians as a form of collective punishment, the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says. | The Israeli cabinet's move will only be seen by Palestinians as a form of collective punishment, the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says. |
| He says it also risks consolidating support for Hamas amongst a population that is already struggling to maintain a basic economic standard of living. | He says it also risks consolidating support for Hamas amongst a population that is already struggling to maintain a basic economic standard of living. |
| 'Critical issues' | 'Critical issues' |
| Ms Rice is in the Middle East for talks ahead of the US-sponsored conference. | Ms Rice is in the Middle East for talks ahead of the US-sponsored conference. |
| The US is supporting Mahmoud Abbas while isolating Hamas | The US is supporting Mahmoud Abbas while isolating Hamas |
| She is due to meet Mr Olmert and the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. | She is due to meet Mr Olmert and the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| With US encouragement, the two recently held a series of face-to-face meetings. | With US encouragement, the two recently held a series of face-to-face meetings. |
| After their last meeting on 10 September, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution and agreed to set up negotiating teams to discuss some of the issues in dispute. | After their last meeting on 10 September, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution and agreed to set up negotiating teams to discuss some of the issues in dispute. |
| The US is also giving financial assistance to build up the Palestinian Authority's security forces and is backing former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's efforts to develop Palestinian political institutions and the economy. | The US is also giving financial assistance to build up the Palestinian Authority's security forces and is backing former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's efforts to develop Palestinian political institutions and the economy. |