Israel counted calorie needs in Gaza blockade

October 17, 2012 23:08

The Israeli military meticulously calculated the number of calories Gaza's residents would need to consume to avoid malnutrition during a sweeping blockade imposed on the Palestinian territory between 2007 and mid-2010, according to a document the Defence Ministry released under a court order and that was made public today.

The Israeli military insisted that it never used the 2008 guidelines to restrict the flow of food to Gaza. But critics disputed that, saying the calculations appear to have guided limits imposed on food imports at the time. They said the document provides further evidence that Israel used food as a weapon to put pressure on Hamas, the violently anti-Israel militant group that seized Gaza by force in mid-2007.

The blockade was imposed shortly after Hamas took over Gaza. Israel declared Gaza a "hostile territory" in September 2007, following the takeover. Seeking to weaken the militants, it called for "severe restrictions" on civilians that included limitations on food.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

IPL PIX: KKR outclass MI; storm into play-offs

Kolkata Knight Riders outclassed Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in the rain-hit IPL 2024 match in Kolkata on Saturday.

Wrestling: Aman seals Paris Olympics quota

Aman Sehrawat is the first Indian male wrestler to secure berth for the Paris Olympic Games

Modi will make Amit Shah PM, finish Yogi politically: Kejriwal

A day after his release on interim bail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging he was on a 'One nation, One leader' mission to impose 'dictatorship' by putting all...

Kejriwal holds first roadshow after his release from jail

Aam Aadmi Party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will not form the government on June 4 and said if the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) comes...

Hinduja group firm gets conditional nod to acquire RCap

Insurance sector regulator IRDAI has given conditional approval to Hinduja Group firm IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL) for the takeover of debt-ridden Reliance Capital. "We are happy to acknowledge the receipt of approval from...