29 June 2015
Protecting Israel’s Blockade of Gaza
The Legal Rules and Israel’s Hasbara
The new flotilla of ships from Sweden and elsewhere, currently attempting to breech Israel’s efforts to stop war-material reaching Hamas, will provide Israel with enormous diplomatic and hasbara opportunities. These will be primarily in the areas for the promotion of Israel’s legal rights and opportunities to shift public perceptions of Israeli blame onto the Palestinians.
Israel’s legal rights to act in international waters against attempts to break a lawful blockade are specific. They include the legal permission to stop, search, divert, seize and even attack ships attempting to breech the blockade.
The San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, 1994 provides:
