Israel & Gaza some updates

1) I read that:

'Firas Press reports that Egypt has intercepted a shipment of 100 landmines and 10 mortar shells that were being smuggled to Gaza.

This is just the latest of a long line of such seizures ever since Egypt started increased monitoring of Rafah tunnel crossings in the wake of Hamas' refusal to reconcile with Fatah.'

I await the BBC's coverage of this story.


2_ Reuters have explained why Israel's blockade is not 'illegal':

'CAN ISRAEL IMPOSE A NAVAL BLOCKADE ON GAZA?

Yes it can, according to the law of blockade which was derived from customary international law and codified in the 1909 Declaration of London. It was updated in 1994 in a legally recognized document called the "San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea."

Under some of the key rules, a blockade must be declared and notified to all belligerents and neutral states, access to neutral ports cannot be blocked, and an area can only be blockaded which is under enemy control.

"On the basis that Hamas is the ruling entity of Gaza and Israel is in the midst of an armed struggle against that ruling entity, the blockade is legal," said Philip Roche, partner in the shipping disputes and risk management team with law firm Norton Rose.'

The same Reuters Q&A article also explains that:

'Under the law of a blockade, intercepting a vessel could apply globally so long as a ship is bound for a "belligerent" territory, legal experts say.'

As well as that:

'Legal experts say proportional force does not mean that guns cannot be used by forces when being attacked with knives.'

And that:

'OPPONENTS HAVE CALLED ISRAEL'S RAID "PIRACY." WAS IT?

No, as under international law it was considered a state action.

"Whether what Israel did is right or wrong, it is not an act of piracy. Piracy deals with private conduct particularly with a pecuniary or financial interest," '

I presume that BBC interviewers will correct any one that claims that Israel's blockade is illegal or that they committed an act of piracy; it's OK I know the BBC won't do any such thing.