Gelb on Legality of Stopping the Ships

By Published On: June 1, 2010

Writing in the Daily Beast, Leslie Gelb reiterates what we’ve noted about the legality of Israel’s decision to blockade and interdict shipping to Gaza.

Israel had every right under international law to stop and board ships bound for the Gaza war zone late Sunday. …

Regarding international law, blockades are quite legal. The United States and Britain were at war with Germany and Japan and blockaded them. I can’t remember international lawyers saying those blockades were illegal—even though they took place on the high seas in international waters.

… Gazan leaders proclaim their goal is to destroy Israel, have tried for years to do so by missile attacks and terrorism, and that Israel has every right to protect itself under international law, including by blockades in international waters.

The rest of the piece is also worth a read.

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