Energy firms face legal threat over Israeli licences to drill for gas off Gaza

Major energy companies awarded licences by Israel to explore for gas off Gaza's coast have been warned that they could face legal action for possible breaches of Palestinian maritime sovereignty and war pillaging.

Israel's Ministry of Energy granted exploration rights to three companies - Italian energy giant Eni, UK-based Dana Energy and Israel's Ratio Petroleum - three weeks after the war on Gaza began in October.

Lawyers working on behalf of three Palestinian NGOs - Al Haq, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights - notified the companies in letters this month that they would use "all legal mechanisms to the fullest extent" if they proceeded and called on them to desist from any activities relating to the licences.

The organisations contend that over half of the zone for which the companies were awarded licences lies within Palestine's maritime boundaries.

Read more: Energy firms face legal threat over Israeli licences to drill for gas off Gaza