Israel was slammed Thursday for its decision to go ahead with a plan to reduce the flow of electricity to Gaza by 5 percent in one of the ten power lines that supply the region. Under the plan, electricity supplies to Gaza will be cut by 5 percent in three lines over the course of two weeks in response to the massive Kassam rocket and mortar attacks on southern Israel.

The International Human Rights Watch posted a statement on its website denouncing the move, calling it a "collective punishment of the civilian population" and saying it violates "Israel's obligations under the laws of war."  The plan was designed by the defense establishment and passed by the government as a non-military strategy to end the rocket attacks emanating from Gaza.