A Hostile Entity

The Righteous State, having crippled the only power plant in the Gaza Strip some eighteen months ago, is now cutting the electricity supply further "as part of a new economic campaign targeting Hamas" as the Guardian hath it, faithfully echoing a spokesbeing for Olmert bar Sharon: "It's not that we think there is a quick magical solution but we believe that a combination of military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Hamas is a strategy that in the medium and longer term will in fact bring about a change in policy and protect our people". Israeli military strikes have killed fifteen people in Gaza since Monday, in retaliation for a suicide bombing which killed one Israeli and injured eleven others. The suicide bombing, as usual, was not in retaliation for anything. A spokesbeing for the US State Department understood Israel's right to defend itself, but did not think that "actions should be taken that would infringe upon or worsen the humanitarian situation for the civilian population in Gaza". Regrettably, the spokesbeing apparently failed to detail the sort of sanctions which would be put in place against the Righteous State should any such actions occur.