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The Contemporary Law of Blockade and the Gaza Freedom Flotilla

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Book cover Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law - 2010

Part of the book series: Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law ((YIHL,volume 13))

Abstract

In the early hours of 31 May 2010, Israel intercepted six vessels on the high seas carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, prompting a highly contentious debate over the legality of the interception and the blockade on Gaza. This paper examines the blockade and interception from the perspective of international law, and in doing so, it explores three pivotal sets of questions: (1) can Israel invoke a prima facie right to blockade Gaza? What is the legal basis for this right? What effect, if any, does the characterisation of the Israeli-Hamas conflict have? (2) If Israel does have a prima facie right to blockade Gaza, is the blockade legally constituted and maintained? What factors must be taken into consideration? Finally (3) can Israel lawfully intercept vessels on the high seas without permission of the flag-state? In what circumstances, and under what conditions, can Israel undertake such an operation? Did Israel act lawfully when it intercepted the Gaza Freedom Flotilla vessels?

I am extremely grateful to Dr Louise Arimatsu, Dr Anthony Cullen, Professor James Crawford SC, Ms Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh, Dr Marko Milanovic and Ms Sarah Sadek for their useful comments and discussion on earlier drafts. I am particularly indebted to Dr Louise Arimatsu for her invaluable advice and comments. Usual disclaimers apply.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cambridge, London, UK

    Andrew Sanger

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  1. Andrew Sanger
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Correspondence to Andrew Sanger .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Law School, Durham Univerity, 29/30 Old Elvet, Durham, United Kingdom

    M.N. Schmitt

  2. Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Aff, 10 St. James's Square, London, United Kingdom

    Louise Arimatsu

  3. , Melbourne law School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    T. McCormack

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© 2011 Stichting T.M.C. Asser Instituut, The Hague, and the authors

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Sanger, A. (2011). The Contemporary Law of Blockade and the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. In: Schmitt, M., Arimatsu, L., McCormack, T. (eds) Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law - 2010. Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law, vol 13. T.M.C. Asser Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-6704-811-8_14

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