Israel's Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, has approved the reduction of power supplies to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian rocket attacks.
Mr Barak's decision has cleared the way for electricity cuts to begin immediately, although it is not clear exactly when power to the territory will be reduced.
Mr Barak, a former prime minister who heads Israel's Labour Party, gave his approval a day before Israeli and Palestinian leaders plan to meet again to try to narrow differences in preparation for a US-run conference on Palestinian statehood.
The UN has told Israel it must not inflict collective punishment by denying Palestinians in the Gaza Strip vital supplies and services.
Israel pulled troops and settlers out of the territory in 2005 but still controls its borders.
According to Israeli and Palestinian officials, Gaza's population uses about 200 megawatts of electricity, of which 120 are provided directly from Israeli power lines, 17 are delivered from Egypt, and 65 are produced at a local Palestinian plant.
