Al-Qods, 2007 Oct 25, Al-Manar

Israeli War Minister Ehud Barak was expected to approve a series of sanctions against Gaza's civilian population on Thursday, including cutting off electricity in response to rocket attacks.

Barak will hold a security assessment with the army's top brass and defense officials to weigh "a series of limitations on supplies and services to the Gaza Strip," a senior security source said.

"The restrictions will include cutting fuel and electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip," he added.

The new measures are aimed at putting pressure on Gaza's population to press militants to stop regular rocket fire against the occupied territories, which the Israeli army has struggled to curb. The power cuts will be temporary and measured in proportion to the resistance fighters' fire, which totaled more than 40 rockets over the past month, according to the Israeli occupation army.

But the Palestinians charge any such move will amount to collective punishment of the civilian population in breach of international law.

Last month Israel declared Gaza a "hostile entity" following the Hamas movement's control of the coastal strip in June.