Dr. Saeb Erekat: Israel Wants to Put Palestinians on an I.V. Drip- This Decision to Cut Power to Gaza Constitutes Collective Punishment

In the wake of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s decision today to reduce the provision of electricity and other services to Gaza, Chief Palestinian Negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat called on the international community to use their ''influential voices for the protection of Palestinians and the promotion of international humanitarian law.’’

Dr. Erekat called the recent Israeli decision an ''outrageous decision that will cause more suffering to Palestinians living in Gaza” and said that it was “particularly provocative given that Palestinians and Israelis are meeting to negotiate an agreement on the core issues for ending the conflict between them.” He stated that ''limiting electricity, fuel or any other service amounts to collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population. This is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.’’

Dr. Erekat stated that in addition to the daily Israeli ''military attacks, economic sanctions, political stagnation, social disintegration, and killing and maiming of Palestinian civilians, Israel has now decided to put the Gaza Strip on an I.V. Drip.’’

The decision by the Israeli Defense Minister to disrupt power and other services to the Gaza Strip is a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law, as Israel continues to occupy the Gaza Strip and hence bears the responsibilities of an occupying power.