John StGeorge's List: Blockade

• Sending blockade-busting ships has become a highly charged issue

  • Sending blockade-busting ships is a violation of International Law:
    
    San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, 12 June 1994.
    
    Part IV: Methods and Means of Warfare at Sea.
    Section II: Methods of Warefare
    Blockade
    
    98. Merchant vessels believed on reasonable grounds to be breaching a blockade may be captured. Merchant vessels which, after prior warning, clearly resist capture may be attacked.
• Israeli naval commandos boarded a flotilla of Gaza-bound ships

  • Part V: Measures short of Attack: Interception, Visit Search, Diversion and Capture.
    
    Section VI: Capture of Neutral Merchant Vessels and Goods.
    
    146 (c) are operatiang directly undfer enemy control, orders, charter, employment or direction.
    146 (f) are breaching or attempting to breach a blockade.
• The activists said they were defending their ship after it was attacked by Israeli soldiers in international waters.

  • 96. The force maintiang the blockade may be stationed at a distance determined by military requirements.

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• San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, 12 June 1994
• PART IV : METHODS AND MEANS OF WARFARE AT SEA
• SECTION II : METHODS OF WARFARE
   
   Blockade
   
   93. A blockade shall be declared and notified to all belligerents and neutral States.
• SECTION V : CAPTURE OF ENEMY CIVIL AIRCRAFT AND GOODS
• SECTION VI : CAPTURE OF NEUTRAL MERCHANT VESSELS AND GOODS
• 146. Neutral merchant vessels are subject to capture outside neutral waters if they are engaged in any of the activities referred to in paragraph 67 or if it is determined as a result of visit and search or by other means, that they:
   
    (a) are carrying contraband;
• (c) are operating directly under enemy control, orders, charter, employment or direction;
• (f) are breaching or attempting to breach a blockade.

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• Article101

   

  Definition of piracy

    

  Piracy consists of any of the following acts:

       

  (a) any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed:

    

  (i) on the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on board such ship or aircraft;

   

  (ii) against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State;

    

  (b) any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;

   

  (c) any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in subparagraph (a) or (b).

• Definition of piracy

    

  Piracy consists of any of the following acts:

       

  (a) any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed:

    

  (i) on the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on board such ship or aircraft;

   

  (ii) against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State;

    

  (b) any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;

   

  (c) any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in subparagraph (a) or (b).

• Israel’s decision to besiege Gaza in defiance of international law

  • The lack of reference to the law violated indicates to me that no such law exists!
• violates international norms
• Israel’s shameful violation of human rights.

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• Not once does the author cite a source for her allegations. Is she appealing to emotion and not reason? Are there no supporting sources for her allegations? My belief must be suspended. - John StGeorge on 2010-08-22