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Opinion | Israel’s interception of Madleen raises legal concerns over humanitarian aid blockade
International law outlines strict conditions for blockades, highlighting potential violations in the recent interception of a humanitarian aid vessel
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On Monday, the Madleen, a UK-flagged civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians, was stopped by Israeli forces in international waters, about 200km (124 miles) off the Gaza coast.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition had organised the voyage, setting sail from Sicily on June 1. The vessel’s 12 passengers included climate activist Greta Thunberg, European Parliament member Rima Hassan, two French journalists and several other activists from around the world.
The Israeli military boarded the ship and diverted it to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The aid it carried – baby milk formula, food, medical supplies, water desalination kits – was confiscated. All passengers were detained and some, like Thunberg, were deported.
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This interception sparked international condemnation – and more importantly, raised questions about whether Israel’s actions complied with international law.
Legal conditions for naval blockades
Naval blockades are not automatically illegal. Under the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994), a blockade may be used in wartime, but only if five legal conditions are met:
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