(BrightCitizen.com) International Maritime Law expert Mr. Robert Margolis on a recent interview says a state has a right under International Maritime Law. Under the law of Blockades, a country may declare a blockade over a port in both the territorial seas and the international waters. The boarding of the ship is not an act of piracy by a warship as others have condemned Israel. Pirates are individuals seeking personal gains.
If a blockade is declared and the ship is aware of the blockade. Their is a series of steps to hail, fire across the bow, and boarding becomes acceptable. By trying to break a sovereign nation’s blockade, they indeed are breaking the law.
Mr. Margolis says that the Israelis actually did not use too much force, but actually used too little force. He said the Israeli’s should have dropped stun grenades or tear gas to clear the deck first as they had every right to board the ship by International Maritime Laws.