Israel cannot be blamed for its defense; Hamas cannot help but celebrate the violence they provoked

Every time Israel is successful in any kind of strategy to defend itself, there are quick and prepared cries of "Not fair! Take away their ability to defend themselves, and give the advantage to others in order to destroy them once and for all."


May 31, 2010, a story broke out about Israel boarding, in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, a “humanitarian” flotilla of ships which were carrying aid and weapons headed from Turkey toward the blockaded Gaza Strip, killing several peace activists in a brazen assault. It now appears that the interception by Israel was calculated and expected by militant group Hamas and Islamist Palestinian sponsor, Iran.


Provocateurs set up the facade of humanitarian support, knowing that Israel is vigilant and would be suspicious. The provocateurs were aware that Israel maintains an open corridor for the transfer of food to Gaza, a route used routinely by organizations like the United Nations and the Red Cross. When Israel told the ships to take that course and that from there the cargo could be transferred to Gaza, the flotilla under direction of Palestinian and Turkish activists kept steaming toward the 3-year-old blockade.


Due to the smuggling of arms and rockets into Gaza via the sea and as Israel is currently in a state of armed conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza, it is hardly a surprise that Israel would want to make sure there were no hidden weapons or explosives aboard. Under international maritime law, when there is a naval blockade in effect, then no vessels are permitted to enter; but flotilla representatives made clear their intent to disregard that.


When the flotilla ignored their repeated warnings, Israeli commandos disembarked from warships and helicopters to board the six boats. Of the six ships boarded, five of them proceeded without incident. It was but one ship, the Mavi Marmara, where Israelis encountered an angry mob just waiting for them. One by one, as they landed on board, they were beat with metal rods and knives and thrown off the sides of the deck. They resisted in using their own pistols and had them taken away and used against them. Finally, the Israelis responded in order to save their lives. Nine passengers were killed with several dozen wounded, including six Israelis soldiers.


The result of immediate news broadcasting is that Israel once again receives a consensus of international condemnation, and there are cries from Europe to order removal of the blockade.


“'Maritime blockades are a legitimate and recognized measure under international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict at sea,' including in international waters as long as it does not bar neutral states from reaching ports and coasts of other states."--from Israeli Foreign Ministry statement.


Naval manuals of the U.S. and England set forth criteria that make a blockade valid, including the requirement to give due notice of the existence of the blockade. Israel publicized the existence of the blockade through accepted international maritime channels, providing appropriate notification to the affected governments.


Under international maritime law, no boats (including civilian) can enter a blockaded area. Any vessel that attempts to violate a blockade may be captured/attacked under international law. It is clear that Israel had attempted to search all the ships in a peaceful manner, regardless of the lies told by organizers of the flotilla who claimed Israeli forces opened fire as soon as they landed on deck.


From Marco Rubio: "...knowing that the blockade of Gaza exists for a legitimate reason and that Israel already provides avenues for true humanitarian efforts to reach the Palestinian people, this latest incident is a striking provocation by Israel’s opponents."


From Charles Krauthammer: "The whole point of this relentless international campaign is to deprive Israel of any legitimate form of self-defense. Why, just last week, the Obama administration joined the jackals, and reversed four decades of U.S. practice, by signing onto a consensus document that singles out Israel's possession of nuclear weapons -- thus de-legitimizing Israel's very last line of defense: deterrence. The world is tired of these troublesome Jews, 6 million -- that number again -- hard by the Mediterranean, refusing every invitation to national suicide. For which they are relentlessly demonized, ghettoized and constrained from defending themselves, even as the more committed anti-Zionists -- Iranian in particular -- openly prepare a more final solution."






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