Palestinian apologists are fond of--and adept at--claiming that Israel is contravening international law whenever it defends itself.
Not surprisingly--those apologists are twisting the law again.
According to The San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, 12 June 1994
SECTION V : NEUTRAL MERCHANT VESSELS AND CIVIL AIRCRAFT
Neutral merchant vessels
67. Merchant vessels flying the flag of neutral States may not be attacked unless they:
(a) are believed on reasonable grounds to be carrying contraband or breaching a blockade, and after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search or capture;
We can only hope that the people who habitually take everything the pro-Palestinian apologists say as true will take the opportunity to check the facts.
Yes, and it would be nice if the media did too.
UPDATE: see: More On The Legality Of Israel's Blockade Of Gaza
by Daled Amos
Posted by daledamos at May 31, 2010 1:38 PM