EU rights groups, Ban Ki-moon, criticize Israel for utility cuts to Gaza

The European Union criticized Israel's decision to cut back fuel and electricity supplies to Gaza yesterday.

Israel cut fuel supplies by 30 percent on Sunday, though Israeli officials said supply was reduced by 5-11 percent, depending on the type of fuel.

EU Commissioner for external affairs Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said she was "very concerned about the decision.

She said, "I think collective punishment is never a solution." Palestinians in Gaza rely on Israel for all of their fuel and more than half of their electricity.

In the meantime, ten human rights groups asked Israel to halt the energy cutbacks.

Impoverished Gaza is expected to be hit hard by the shortage of fuel, which is used for driving, cooking and for the private generators that are ubiquitous in Gaza because of constant power outages.

Fuel from Israel also powers Gaza's only electric plant, which provides a quarter of the territory's electricity and will now have to ration its reserves.

Also, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon believed strongly that punitive measures taken by Israel which harm the well-being of the entire population of the Gaza Strip are unacceptable.

In a statement, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General said the limitation of fuel and electricity supplies deepens the humanitarian distress of the 1.4 million residents of Gaza, as does the reduction of the supply of essential commodities and the tightening of restrictions on movement and access.

The Secretary-General calls upon Israel to reconsider its actions and for all concerned to protect civilians and to meet their obligations under international law. He reiterated his call for the cessation of indiscriminate rocket attacks by Palestinian militants targeting Israel and strongly condemns these actions.