Article

The international law of naval blockade and Israel's interception of the Mavi Marmara

by Russell Buchan

• Netherlands international law review, Vol. 58, no. 2, 2011, p. 209-241

English

Photocopies

Although Israel's stopping, boarding and inspection of the Mavi Marmara on May 31 2010 whilst on the high seas would undoubtedly constitute a violation of the law of the sea during peace time, it is examined whether this violation can be justified on the basis of international humanitarian law (IHL). Specifically, Israel asserts that it was enforcing a naval blockade. The author suggests that the blockade was unlawful on the basis that customary IHL permits the use of naval blockades only in times of an international armed conflict and that on May 31 2010 Israel was not engaged in an international armed conflict with Hamas. Moreover, customary international law prohibits the use of blockades where they are intended to deny the civilian population objects essential for its survival or where the damage to the civilian population is excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage. Israel argues that the intention of the blockade was to prevent war material from being delivered to Hamas fighters. This notwithstanding, because this blockade was causing a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza on May 31 2010, it was incompatible with customary international law and therefore unlawful. Furthermore, even if the deployment of the blockade could be considered lawful, the enforcement of the blockade was unlawful because Israel's use of force to capture the vessel went beyond what was necessary in the circumstances.

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