Maritime Law Expert: Israel's Gaza Blockade and Aid Interception May Be Unlawful

International Law and Blockades

• ⚖️ In an international armed conflict, a belligerent state has the right to blockade enemy territory and control aid entering.
• ⚠️ However, this right is contingent on the blockade being lawful. A blockade becomes unlawful if it is part of a campaign of starvation against the civilian population, which constitutes a war crime.

Intercepting Ships on the High Seas

• 🚢 Under ordinary international law in peacetime, intercepting a ship on the high seas requires a treaty arrangement, permission from the flag state, or falling into narrow exceptions like piracy or the slave trade.
• 🌍 The transcript notes that the waters in question are not Israel's territorial sea but are considered the territorial sea of Palestine.
• ❓ The legality of Israel's actions hinges on whether its blockade meets the criteria of international law, particularly concerning the treatment of civilians and the specific legal status of the waters involved.