Another Ship to Gaza was boarded in international waters and taken into custody by the Israeli military a few days ago.
While I might agree that Israel could board and inspect the ship to make sure it was not carrying contraband, that they can take a ship headed to Gaza with humanitarian supplies into custody, tow it to an Israeli port and arrest the people aboard, demanding that they sign a document apologizing for attempting to enter Israel illegally (it was Gaza they were headed for) seems to me absurd.
And after all, as the ship was in international waters, is this not piracy? Is Israel not in conflict with international law?
Originally posted by mbakunin Another Ship to Gaza was boarded in international waters and taken into custody by the Israeli military a few days ago.
While I might agree that Israel could board and inspect the ship to make sure it was not carrying contraband, that they can take a ship headed to Gaza with humanitarian supplies into custody, tow it to an Israeli port and arrest the pe ...[text shortened]... , is this not piracy? Is Israel not in conflict with international law?
What are your views?
What does international law say about Hamas continuing to fire rockets into Israel?
Israel's blockade has consistently allowed in less food than necessary to sustain Gaza's population according to internal Israeli documents:
Gisha says the research contradicts Israel's assertions that the blockade is needed for security reasons.
"How can Israel claim that it is not responsible for civilian life in Gaza when it controls even the type and quantity of food that Palestinian residents of Gaza are permitted to consume?" asked Sari Bashi, Gisha's executive director, in a statement.
"Israel's control over movement creates an obligation to allow free passage of civilians and civilian goods, subject only to security checks - an obligation that remains unfulfilled today."
Robert Turner, director of operations in Gaza for the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) for Palestine refugees, said: "If this reflects an authentic policy intended to cap food imports, this 'red lines' document is contrary to humanitarian principles.
"The facts on the ground indicate that food imports consistently fell below the red lines."
"We recognise that Israel has legitimate security concerns but we have said consistently that the blockade is collective punishment of the population. It's illegal under international law and we think it's counterproductive," he added.
Point is, it's enough to justify Israel's blockade, and if the Palestinians find that inconvenient perhaps they should stop Hamas from launching those rockets.
Point is, it's enough to justify Israel's blockade, and if the Pa ...[text shortened]... estinians find that inconvenient perhaps they should stop Hamas from launching those rockets.
Israel's blockade includes non-military items and is clearly illegal under IL.
If Israel wants to stop rockets from being fired at them, they'd conclude a peace with the Palestinians and stop considering themselves at war with Gaza because the Palestinians there put in a government that Israel doesn't like.
Originally posted by Sleepyguy Point is, it's enough to justify Israel's blockade [...]
Yeah, that may be true. It may be true that the reparation payments Germany had to make after WWI were justified by their agression in WW1. Still, it was one of the major factors that led to WW2. Unfortunately, macho posturing and killing people seem to be more important than peace to the Israeli government and Hamas.
Israel and international law
22 Oct '12 16:32
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