Send a letter (on line) of protest condemning the decision of the Israeli government to begin withholding electricity, water and goods from the Gaza Strip. These actions are inhumane and illegal under international law.

- At the very least, these measures amount to collective punishment.

In a Cabinet decision announced Tuesday, the Israeli government responded to ongoing rocket attacks from Hamas militants in Gaza into northern Israel by declaring all of Gaza a 'hostile territory'. This opens the door to cutting off all passage into Gaza and to halting the supply of services on which Gaza depends. An Israeli government official said, "We will reduce the amount of megawattage we provide to the Strip, and Hamas will have to decide whether to provide electricity to hospitals or weapons lathes."

U.S. Secretary of State, Ms. Condoleezza Rice, refused to condemn the Israeli move, despite her pronouncement that the U.S. "will not abandon the innocent Palestinians in Gaza, and indeed will make every effort to deal with their humanitarian needs." Remind her that cutting the utilities to the whole civilian population in the Gaza Strip makes a mockery of her promise.

Remind Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, that these measures amount to collective punishment, and instead of making the citizens of southern Israel safer, will only increase the frequency of the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel.