AL QUDS, May 16: The Israeli army was given the green light on Sunday to step up its widely criticised demolitions of Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip, after a massive public protest demanding a pullout from the occupied territory.

The supreme court ruled the army could continue its demolitions, which the United Nations says has already left more than a 1,000 people homeless since late last week and prompted criticism from US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The demolitions had been carried out for justifiable "operational reasons" and were not a form of collective punishment, the judges ruled. However in a rare rebuke from Washington's chief Middle Eastern ally, Powell said at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Jordan that "we oppose the destruction of homes, we don't think that is productive."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, who was also attending the WEF on the shores of the Dead Sea, said the demolitions made a mockery of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stated desire to quit Gaza.

"I mean what sort of Gaza does he want to leave?" Maher told CNN. Veteran Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat also weighed in, accusing Israel of continuing its "cruel aggression" against his people. Peter Hansen, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), said he was "extremely alarmed that even more demolitions are planned." -AFP