JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli rights group says the country's Supreme Court has rejected its petition to ease restrictions on Palestinians traveling through a Gaza crossing.

Gisha, an Israeli group advocating for greater freedom of movement for Gazans, maintains the ban on travel with basic necessities is "arbitrary ... and illegal."

"The state is obligated to find a reasonable balance between Israel's security needs and its responsibilities toward civilians under its control, passing through its crossings," It said,

Last year Israel, citing security concerns, imposed new restrictions, including a ban on laptops, on Palestinians exiting Gaza.

Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2007 after the militant Islamic Hamas took over.

Israel says it is to prevent Hamas arming. Critics say it's collective punishment of Gaza's 2 million people.