Israel postpones Gaza power, fuel cuts

JERUSALEM, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- The Israeli government's plan to punish rebels in Gaza for rocket attacks by reducing electricity supplies was ordered put on hold in Jerusalem.

Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak endorsed cutting power into the strip by two hours per day except to hospitals because of the near-daily rocket attacks on Israel from the region.

However, Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ruled the military needed more justification of "any such move with the risk of exacerbating humanitarian difficulties for the civilian population in Gaza," Ynetnews.com reported Tuesday.

Mazuz's ruling gives the government five days to produce more compelling evidence or drop the plan.

International reaction to the plan was negative and on Monday U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement saying tampering with electricity for Gaza's 1.4 million residents was in violation of international law.