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Last update - 00:09 22/09/2007
UN human rights chief urges Israel to exercise restraint on Gaza
By Reuters

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour on Friday urged Israel to exercise restraint in its dealings with the Hamas-led Gaza Strip.

In a statement voicing concern at Israel's decision on Wednesday to declare Gaza a "hostile territory," Arbour said that reducing fuel and power to the tiny territory would place an "unbearable burden" on its 1.5 million people.

The former United Nations war crimes prosecutor and Canadian Supreme Court judge also condemned the indiscriminate firing of rockets into Israel by Palestinian militants in Gaza.

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Arbour reminded Israel of its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law not to use disproportionate means or resort to collective punishment.

Gaza had already paid a "heavy price" from daily violence, isolation and deprivation, she said

Rights groups condemn gov't decision to cut fuel, electricity to Gaza
In a joint announcement released Thursday, seven different Israeli rights groups condemned the government's decision to cut back fuel and electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip saying it violated international law by not distinguishing between combatants and civilians.

The statement also said the step constituted collective punishment and would worsen Gaza's existing humanitarian crisis. Since Hamas took control of Gaza in June, Israel and Egypt have closed Gaza's border crossings to nearly everything but humanitarian aid, worsening economic hardship in the Strip.

The government's decision to further isolate Gaza is aimed at doing what Israel's military has failed to do - halt rocket barrages fired nearly daily by Palestinian militants from Gaza into Israel.

Israeli government spokesman David Baker would not respond to the statement, but said Friday that the government's decision on Gaza was vital to protect Israelis.

"Any situation in which Palestinian terrorists fire upon Israeli cities and towns is an untenable situation, one we won't tolerate, and we will use the means necessary in order to enable our citizens to live in peace and quiet once again," Baker said.

The announcement from the Israeli groups, including B'Tselem and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, came in wake of similar warnings from international organizations like Oxfam and condemnations from the government of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestinian militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel since 2001, killing 12 people and making life terrifying for the residents of Israeli communities near Gaza. Gaza's Hamas rulers have done nothing to stop the rocket fire.

Despite numerous incursions that have caused high Palestinian casualties, Israel's military has been unable to halt the barrages. On Wednesday, the government decided to declare Gaza hostile territory and further isolate its residents, cutting back their fuel, electricity and nonessential goods until the rocket fire ceased.

Israeli security officials said Thursday that implementation would begin over the coming days. Fuel for cars and for Gaza's power plant will be drastically reduced, but the diesel fuel that runs hospital generators will be unaffected, the officials said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.
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  1.   The pressure builds on Israel 12:21  |  Clickfool 21/09/07
  2.   The Rights groups are right in their condemnation & even the 12:31  |  lakshmi 21/09/07
  3.   Stop Egyptian Gas to apartheidic Israel... 12:35  |  ME Observer 21/09/07
  4.   cuts in facilities 12:47  |  rachel simson 21/09/07
  5.   oh, boo hoo 12:59  |  Evan 21/09/07
  6.   A RARE AGREEMENT 13:37  |  Brant 21/09/07
  7.   For Evan # 5 13:40  |  Clickfool 21/09/07
  8.   sympathy 13:44  |  Murray 21/09/07
  9.   Cut the BS 13:45  |  Frank 21/09/07
  10.   An Israeli worker was killed when Arbour was visiting Sderot 14:02  |  Absolute Sweden 21/09/07
  11.   An interesting question 14:09  |  Jonathan S 21/09/07
  12.   UN Rights Group 14:18  |  Fred 21/09/07
  13.   Israel feeds her enemies! 14:19  |  Lasse 21/09/07
  14.   No right to life for Sderot 14:22  |  Jasmine Murphy 21/09/07
  15.   ClickFOOL and the pressure 14:22  |  Jonathan S 21/09/07
  16.   Clickfool and Lakshmi 14:38  |  Labhras 21/09/07
  17.   I`m thinking that Israel won`t have the nerve 14:39  |  Natallie Durson 21/09/07
  18.   #2 lakshmi props WOBBLY "Clean & Green Gaza" with broken sticks.. 14:41  |  CK Tan 21/09/07
  19.   Louise Arbour - Humanitarian 14:51  |  ze`ev 21/09/07
  20.   #2 Gaza has a seaport, so... 14:55  |  John Allen 21/09/07
  21.   OK, Fred, let`s try 14:55  |  Murray 21/09/07
  22.   UN Rights Group that only sees one country in world who violates 14:57  |  Jon 21/09/07
  23.   #3 MEobserver 15:01  |  John Allen 21/09/07
  24.   #6 Brant, you `gotta` get out more often. 15:05  |  John Allen 21/09/07
  25.   #7 Regarding the EU.. 15:07  |  John Allen 21/09/07
  26.   the usual useless entities must make noises to earn their keep 15:11  |  ralph 21/09/07
  27.   #12 Fred. You missed nothing. 15:13  |  John Allen 21/09/07
  28.   Israel GOVT is expected to protect its population 15:16  |  17 21/09/07
  29.   UN human rights chief could urge HAMAS to stop violence. 15:17  |  Vittorio 21/09/07
  30.   #13 Lasse. Your are right `on-point`. 15:18  |  John Allen 21/09/07
  31.   #15 Johnathan, you are `right-on`. 15:20  |  John Allen 21/09/07
  32.   #12 Fred 15:34  |  Labhras 21/09/07
  33.   Lakshmi 15:52  |  Jasmine Murphy 21/09/07
  34.   Had Israel treated Gaza like Dresden this issue wouldnt exist 15:57  |  pace306 21/09/07
  35.   THE DEATH CULTURE OF HAMAS 15:58  |  Kooky Dennt 21/09/07
  36.   UN should encourage restraint on qasam firings!!! 16:05  |  Ben 21/09/07
  37.   Fred 16:31  |  Daniel 21/09/07
  38.   Louise Arbour`s credibility 17:21  |  peter 21/09/07
  39.   #20 John Allen 17:59  |  Labhras 21/09/07
  40.   It never has before, why would it start now? 18:48  |  peacelover 21/09/07
  41.   Labhras # 32 18:52  |  Brad 21/09/07
  42.   Urge the Gazan terrorists 19:02  |  KUTW 21/09/07
  43.   I urge the UN 19:03  |  KUTW 21/09/07
  44.   All nations that believe in freedoms must destroy the UN 19:16  |  GI Joe 21/09/07
  45.   HAMAS should "exercise restraint on QASSAMS" 19:53  |  Vittorio 21/09/07
  46.   JOHN ALLEN: My Reply 20:21  |  Brant 21/09/07
  47.   Labhras&CK Tan.Labhras,thanks for the info.Times have changed and 20:42  |  lakshmi 21/09/07
  48.   33jasmine Murphy,ironic as your post is,let me reply quite 20:46  |  lakshmi 21/09/07
  49.   Lakshmi 21:13  |  Jasmine Murphy 21/09/07
  50.   Is it forgotten that we lost SEVEN YOUNG SOLDIERS 22:43  |  Dagma 21/09/07
  51.   Base The UN Human Rights Chief In Sderot 22:53  |  Yoram 21/09/07
  52.   UN human rights chief urges Israel to exercise restraint on Gaza 22:53  |  ka 21/09/07
  53.   Ka, you sound like BA 00:15  |  17 22/09/07
  54.   Unlike Olmert, the UN is not trapped 00:56  |  Mark Lincoln 22/09/07
  55.   It`s so illuminating 01:36  |  H50 22/09/07
  56.   #Dagma. `Arab oil money.` 03:00  |  Maureen Ann 22/09/07
  57.   So Brant #6 Full out military intervention then? 04:20  |  MaryRose 22/09/07
  58.   #47 lakshmi DISMISSES 88.02% of her own post as RUBBISH 04:48  |  CK Tan 22/09/07
  59.   Why not move the UN from NYC to Sderot? 05:11  |  Murray of Montreal 22/09/07
  60.   RE:Had Israel treated Gaza like Dresden this issue wouldnt exist 05:27  |  Murray of Montreal 22/09/07
  61.   Dagma`s defective memory # 50 10:07  |  Clickfool 22/09/07
  62.   For Murray of Monteal # 60 10:26  |  Clickfool 22/09/07
  63.   #10 Absolute Sweden 15:41  |  Mark B. 22/09/07
  64.   #15 Jonathan S. 15:46  |  Mark B. 22/09/07
  65.   united nations of Terrorists (unt) 22:53  |  Avram 23/09/07
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