There were no surprises. Although Warnings of several governments (including Spanish) The ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) have remained advanced towards the coast of Gaza, where in the last hours they met The brake of the Israeli armed forces. Both Tel Aviv and GSF have shared images of the approach, in which It can be seen for example to Greta Thunberg between soldiers after her vessel entered the “High risk zone”.
The big question is … What exactly is that of the “high -risk area”? Can the Israeli State act in its waters? Do you protect international law when you do?
What happened? That Israel has frustrated the plans of the Global Sumud Flotilla, the international mission formed by dozen ships that intended to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza and break the blockade to which the strip is subjected, where a serious famine is suffered recognized For the UN.
As they have confirmed so much The Government Headed by Benjamin Netanyahu as his own Global Sumud Flotillathe Hebrew armed forces yesterday intercepted several boats of the squad, including its three main ships.
Click on the image to go to Tweet.
Where did they stop them? That is the key. GSF points out that the ships were intercepted to 70 nautical miles (almost 130 kilometers) of the coast of Gaza. On Wednesday, when most of the flotilla was still 115 miles (more than 200 km) from Gaza, their responsible They warned of the presence of drones and maneuvers that interpreted as the first intimidating acts of the Israeli naval force.
Actually the Netanyahu government (and other authorities, such as the Italian executive) It takes days Insisting the flotilla that downloads its cargo in Greece or Cyprus, a possibility that activists They have ruled out flat.
Why is it important? The exact point in which Israel intercepted the main ships of the humanitarian flotilla (before that GSF denounced that Tel Aviv had “intentionally damaged” ship communications) is not a simple curiosity. The organization assures that the Hebrew forces boarded their ships in “international waters” and speak of an “illegal” intervention.
From the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs They hold They already warned GSF ships that they were approaching “an active combat zone” and its unwlighted “a legitimate naval block.” Yesterday they insisted in fact on their offer to “peacefully transfer their cargo to help Gaza for” safe channels. “
Does Israel control that area? The big question. In recent days, as the flotilla ships approached the coast of Gaza, there has been talk of “High risk zone”, “exclusion zone” or even “Active combat zone”as they have described from Tel Aviv. The key is … with international legislation in hand, can the Israeli State exercise military control in the area where the flotilla intercepted? What waters can control? Is it one “Illegal interception”How do you hold those responsible?
What does the law say? The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (CDM), 1982, recognizes the existence of a strip of Territorial Sea on which states can exercise full sovereignty. Of course, it limits it to about 12 nautical miles, just over 22 kilometers. Israeli ships would have approached the humanitarian flotilla at a much larger distance, around 69 nautical miles (almost 130 km), according to those responsible. About 3.2 GMT+3 GSF assured That there were still 30 ships that were still heading to Gaza, placing about 46 nautical miles, “despite the incessant aggressions of the Israeli occupation navy.”
Is that all? No. In addition to the territorial and sovereign waters of each country, international legislation recognizes riverside countries a larger area called Exclusive economic zone (Zee). Its surface extends much further, to the 200 nautical miles (370 km), although in that sea strip the power of states is something different. As its name indicates, the idea is that countries regulate their economic use, fishing, mining, drilling or energy projects, for example, allowing in theory theory Freedom of navigation.
What happens in Israel? GSF claims that the flotilla ships were intercepted in “International Waters”but the truth is that this region of the Mediterranean is in an anomalous situation. Since 2007 Tel Aviv acts there autonomously After applying A block to Gaza who expands by land, tidal and air and intensified in October 2023. Hence “High risk zone”.
There is who warns That, beyond the blockade or its greater or lesser right to act in the area, Israel has the obligation to guarantee the arrival of humanitarian aid. Others They point That arriving at the 12 nautical miles on the coast, the flotilla would be in Palestinian waters, not Israelis.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is not the first mission that tries to break the blockade. The most popular (and dramatic) case was that of Mavi Marmarain 2010, when an approach to the Israeli navy resulted in Several dead. Yesterday, Minister Margarita Robles asked the members of the flotilla to value the “risk” they assumed and recalled that the Spanish rage ship would not enter the exclusion zone except “in case of absolute necessity” for “rescue work”.
Images | Israel Foreing Ministry (x) and Freedom Fleet Coalition
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings