Israeli siege of Gaza raises fears of humanitarian disaster

Blockade endangers lives of civilians there, violates international law, say diplomats

- Jonathan Eyal

LONDON - Israel's economic siege of Gaza is contrary to international law, the European Union's top diplomat has said.

Referring to the weekend attack by Gaza-based fighters belonging to the Hamas militant organisation in which at least 1,200 Israelis most of them civilians perished, Mr Josep Borrell, who heads the EU's diplomatic service, said that "Israel has a right to self-defence".

But, he added: "This has to be done within international law...Cutting water, cutting electricity, cutting food to a mass of civilian people is against international law."

His statement was echoed by Mr Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who warned Israel on Tuesday that "the imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law".

However, even as the authorities in neighbouring Egypt are examining options to alleviate the plight of civilians in Gaza and various plans for the creation of a "humanitarian corridor" to Gaza are being discussed, it is doubtful that Israel will lift its economic blockade, especially since Israeli troops are now poised to launch a land offensive on the Palestinian enclave.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a "complete siege" of the estimated 2.2 million Gaza residents on Monday. "No electricity, no food, no water, no fuel," he vowed.