The latest Israeli security plan to disrupt of the electricity and fuel supply to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip was authorized on Thursday by Defence Minister Ehud Barak.

The security plan is set to begin next week. The electricity would be cut from time to time and the fuel supplies would also be gradually reduced. In accordance with the official statements, the cuts won’t be too severe. A humanitarian crisis will be avoided and the hospitals won’t be affected, the statement said.

The implementing of the security plan had been already announced on Wednesday by Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai, but it required Barak's authorization.

Israel has chosen to adopt this plan after last month its cabinet declared the Gaza Strip a "hostile entity" over the constant rocket fire from the area.

According to sources from the Israeli military, there were four rockets and at least 10 mortar rounds fired on Thursday from the Gaza strip.

The move has drawn heavy criticism from human rights groups, while Israel said it sees it more as a non-military option for stopping the rocket fire. The Palestinians from both Hamas and the acting West-Bank based government have protested against the future measure and called it a "war crime" and "collective punishment."

The Islamic Hamas movement took control of Gaza in June after driving out the security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah.