הוועד הציבורי נגד עינויים בישראל

Nine human rights organizations, Israeli and Palestinian, including PCATI, petitioned Israel's High Court demanding that the Defense Minister stop restricting fuel supply to the Gaza Strip as part of a policy of collective punishment. Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement submitted the petition on behalf of the groups. The groups claim that since an April 9, 2008 attack on the Nahal Oz fuel depot that killed two Israeli citizens, the Defense Minister has reduced fuel supply to dangerous levels, below even the minimal, insufficient quantities required by the Supreme Court.

Industrial diesel for Gaza's power plant: Israel has allowed just 69% of supply ordered by the court – and just 43% of the amount needed – causing power outages of up to 16 hours/day and causing a two-day closure of the power plant.
Petrol for transportation: Israel has allowed just 40% of supply ordered by the court – and just 13% of the amount needed –preventing patients from reaching hospitals, students from reaching studies, and aid workers from traveling.
Diesel for generators, wells, transportation: Israel has allowed just 25% of the supply ordered by the court – and just 15% of the amount needed – causing garbage to pile in the streets, disruption of hospital services, and the pumping of 50-60 million liters of raw or partially treated sewage each day into the sea.

According to Sari Bashi, Gisha's Director: "Four months ago, Israel's Supreme Court issued a dangerous and illegal decision authorizing collective punishment but requiring 'minimal' supplies of fuel to Gaza. The Defense Minister has violated even those minimal, insufficient orders – with grave consequences for Gaza residents. Israel has a right to protect itself from attacks on Israeli civilians, attacks which violate the international law prohibition against deliberately harming civilians. But it may not harm Palestinian civilians in response, by depriving them of vital fuel supplies."

The rights groups petitioning the court are: Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement * Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel * Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights * B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories * Gaza Community Mental Health Programme * HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual * Mezan Center for Human Rights * The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights * The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel.