Global Sumud Flotilla Interception and International Law
Öz
On 31st of August 2025 multinational, people-powered and non-violent activists gathered a flotilla -carrying humanitarian aid- to end Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza and draw attention on the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. In its first mission, Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) launched 43 boats with 462 participants from all over the World. However, the flotilla was intercepted by Israel navy forces in the high seas. Almost all ships were intercepted, and their communication systems have been jammed during the interventions. All participants were kidnapped and brought to Israel, and they were subjected to mistreatment. The interception took place on the high seas; therefore, the legal assessment conducted under international law in this study is divided into two sections. The first concerns maritime jurisdiction areas in terms of the law of the sea and the law applicable therein, as well as naval blockade’s legality that imposed on Gaza for years. The second sub-heading will be the basic rules of international humanitarian and human rights law that are allegedly violated by intercepting the fleet and treatment of the activists in general.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Global Sumud Flotilla, International Law, Maritime Jurisdiction Areas, Naval Blockade, Palestine
Kaynakça
- Aksar, Yusuf. Teoride ve Uygulamada Uluslararası Hukuk I, Ankara: 7. Basım, Seçkin, 2023.
- Aksar, Yusuf. Teoride ve Uygulamada Uluslararası Hukuk-II, Ankara: 6. Basım, Seçkin, 2021.
- Declaration Respecting Maritime Law. Paris, 16 April 1856. https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/paris-decl-1856/declaration?activeTab=
- Eltmen, Joan. “A Peace Zone on the High Seas: Managing the Commons for Equitable Use.” International Legal Perspectives, 5 (1993), 47-82. https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/intlegp5&id=185&men_tab=srchresults
- Human Rights Council, Report of the international fact-finding mission to investigate violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance, A/HRC/15/21, 27 September 2010
- ICRC, International Committee of the Red Cross. “Bloacked”. (1 October 2025). https://casebook.icrc.org/a_to_z/glossary/blockade
- ICRC, International Committee of the Red Cross. “Israel, Blockade of Gaza and the Flotilla Incident, How Does Law Protect in War”. (3 December 2025). https://casebook.icrc.org/case-study/israel- blockade-gaza-and-flotilla-incident-0
- Kahraman, F. Şeyda. “Uluslararası Hukuk Açısından İsrail’in Gazze’de Uyguladığı Deniz Ablukası.” Uluslararası Hukukta Filistin Meselesi, eds. Ali Kerem Kayhan – Ali Osman Karaoğlu, 179–220. Ankara: Adalet Yayınevi, 2. Basım, 2025.
- Keskin, Sevda. “Mavi Marmara Gemisine Yapılan Müdahalenin Uluslararası Deniz Hukuku Açısından İncelenmesi.” Uluslararası Hukukta Filistin Meselesi, eds. Ali Kerem Kayhan – Ali Osman Karaoğlu, 219–234. Ankara: Adalet Yayınevi, 2. Basım, 2025.
- Kuran, Selami. Uluslararası Deniz Hukuku. İstanbul: Beta, 7. Basım, 2021.
