Facts of (sub human) life

While Israel withdrew its troops and communities from Gaza in 2005, it remains the occupying power under international law, which entails responsibilities for the wellbeing of the civilian population.

Israel placed an economic blockade on Gaza in June 2007, following Hamas's takeover, but economic sanctions have been in place since Hamas were democratically elected to run the Palestinian Authority in January 2006

The decision to further cut fuel and electricity supplies was described by Palestinians and international agencies, including the UN, as collective punishment, which is illegal under international law.

Israel's sweeping blockade of basic necessities has reduced Gaza's population to a "subhuman existence," according to a senior UN official.

The World Bank estimated that poverty rates in Gaza stood at 67 percent in April 2008, with the UN suspending food aid for four days due to a lack of fuel for its delivery vehicles.
By these means, Israel has reduced the calorie intake of the Palestinians in Gaza, according to a UN report, to just 61 percent of the average daily requirement.

Lack of electricity has also drastically reduced drinkable water for the 70,000 Gazans who rely on wells using fuel pumps, while "60m liters of raw and partially treated sewage are being pumped straight into the sea every day," according to the Guardian newspaper.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, said: "There are 1.4 million people in Gaza, including the old, the young and the sick, who are already suffering from the impact of prolonged closure.