Ehud Olmert makes his opening remarks to the weekly cabinet meeting, 24 Jun 2007
Top Israeli Cabinet ministers have decided to declare the Gaza Strip an "enemy entity," opening the way for cuts in vital supplies to the Palestinian territory controlled by the militant Islamic group Hamas.
Officials say Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's "Security Cabinet" of key ministers voted Wednesday, following extensive legal consultations.
They say the move is in response to continuing cross-border rocket fire by Palestinian militants in Gaza.
Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from the coastal territory in 2005 after 38 years of occupation. But it controls Gaza's borders, air space and coastal waters, leaving the Palestinian territory dependent on the Jewish state for utilities and imports of humanitarian aid.
Hamas seized control of Gaza in June after deadly fighting with the rival Fatah faction led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Mr. Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led Palestinian government and appointed a new administration based in the West Bank.
Map of the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli government has declared the Gaza Strip an "enemy entity" due to the continued firing of rockets into Israel from Gaza. Gaza's ruling Hamas party has stated that it considers the announcement a "declaration of war." 

The definition means that Israel could stop supplying Gaza with fuel, electricity and other commodities.

"Following extensive legal consultations, Israel has decided to declare Gaza as a hostile entity, with all the international implications. This move will prepare the groundwork for sanctions against Gaza, such as the interruption of gas, electricity and water supply, which will occur in a gradual process," said an unnamed Israeli government official.

Ehud Barak, the Israeli Minister of Defense said the "objective is to weaken Hamas" , while Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum suggested "...they aim to starve our people and force them to accept humiliating formulas that could emerge from the so-called November peace conference," 

Barak also said that Israel is considering a military operation in the Gaza Strip saying that "every day that passes brings us closer to an operation in Gaza."

The democratically-elected Hamas party, and its militant wing the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, have been labeled "foreign terrorist organization"s by a number of bodies including the European Union, Israel, the United States, Canada and others.