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UN inquiry finds Israel’s flotilla raid ‘willful killing’
Published: 23 September, 2010, 22:42
Edited: 29 September, 2010, 12:03
Israel has rebuffed the conclusion of a United Nations probe which found Israeli soldiers committed 'willful killing and torture,’ during a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
Israel's flotilla raid was an inhumane action and call for total condemnation. USA should asked themself whether they shall allow the Israel to violate all civilize laws of the world under their tacit support. If israeli's want to live in peace they should learn to treat their neigbhour with diginity and regards.
Sec 48 specifies that aid ships are subject to inspection if the are even expected to running a blockade of carrying weapons.
Israel had the right to attack the flotilla fter warning them and to board the vessels. They have the right to redirect them as required under SRM and to inspect their cargo.
The IHH militants among the activists became combatants as soon as they armed and attacked the IDF. IDF had ever right to defend their comrades with force until the situation was under control and they were no longer in harms way.
As far as "proportionality" and "distinction" of combatants/civilians is concerned, that is a matter for the courts to decide and not a ship of fools and martyrs.
After months of debate it is important to note that the UN has directed all aid through Israel via land. There is absolutely no question that Israel followed the SRM law of blockades and naval conflict.
Former member of tha INNs of Court London UK.
I am not surprised when I see negative comments from those who have no
legal training. I am surprised when D'amato, a professor of law and the
UN are totally ignorant of the law of blockades and naval conflict at
sea. (San Remo Manual 1994.)
D'amato's debate with Judi Woodward should be an embarrassment to North Eastern U and the legal profession.
The
UN is a useless bias organization and it's human rights council member
states are some of the worst human rights offenders. Keep in mind the 3
so called experts on that fact finding panel are human rights advocates
who in fact made derogatory comments about the legal inspection of the
flotilla long before they started their fact finding.
Under SRM 1994
sec 67 and 98 allow for the interception of neutral vessels in Int
waters headed to brewach the blockade. That is very clear. The argument
that Gaza is not a state therefore the blockade and thus the
interception is illegal is folly. The Gaza is a hostile territory under
armed conflict with Israel. The point at which Hamas was elected to rule
Gaza makes Gaza a hostile entity or territory and subject to SRM. SRM
deals with state actions as opposed to private actions under Maritime
law.
This is a real and important step forward. A few years ago a verdict such as this against Israel would have been squashed. It is time that Israel realised that it bound by the same laws and rules it expects the rest of the world to follow (yet bizzarly thinks they are themselves somehow exempt from following). Once Israel decides to follow international laws and conventions they will find that they actually have more friends than enemies (and as a result may find the peace that most Israelis have been looking for).