15 years ago, almost to the day, Israel’s High Court rejected a petition challenging punitive measures taken against Gaza’s civilian population, especially restrictions on supply of fuel and electricity to Gaza. The judgment can be found here 🧵
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The petitioners argued that cutting fuel and electricity supplies violates international law. It constitutes illegal collective punishment as it indiscriminately punishes civilian population for acts by militants, and the policy deliberately targets civilians, in violation of...
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the international law principles of distinction and proportionality. It was argued that because fuel and electricity are essential goods necessary for the civilian population, Israel, like all states, always bears an obligation under customary international law ...
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to actively facilitate their passage to civilians in Gaza, irrespective of Gaza's status.The Court ignored all arguments concerning collective punishment, and adopted Israel’s views that the cuts would disrupt the "terrorist infrastructure" in Gaza...
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and characterized harm to civilians as accidental. Some context for those celebrating Israel’s line of defence at the ICJ. END
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