Special report: Internal situation in Palestine 

    GAZA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations' Agency for Palestine refugees expressed concerns on Saturday over Israeli Attorney General Menahem Mazuz's approval of reducing electricity supplies to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

    Karen AbuZayd, the commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said that her organization was "disappointed" of the Israeli intention to cut off the electricity, adding the decision was against the international law and increased the suffering of the Palestinian people.

    Gaza was not in need for more pressures, said AbuZayd, adding that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was also exerting efforts tolift the siege on Gaza to restore residents' life to normal.

    AbuZayd called on Israel to grant freedom of movement for the Palestinians and the freedom of trade in the Gaza Strip.

    On Thursday, the Justice Ministry of Israel confirmed that Mazuz has approved in principle the plan to reduce electricity supply to Gaza in retaliation for rocket attacks.

    In September, Israel announced the coastal enclave, home to 1.5million people, a hostile entity due to continued firing of home-made rockets into southern Israel.

    In June, Islamic Hamas movement seized control of the territory by force after routing security services loyal to moderate President Mahmoud Abbas. Since then, Israel has tightened the closure of the area and allowed only basic food and medicine to enter.