At the time of writing the 22 vessel humanitarian flotilla are off-shore Tunisa preparing for the next leg towards Gaza to attempt to breach the Israeli blockade and deliver aid - but are they prepared for Israeli Use of Force?

The Flotilla organisation has stated its position. 

"We are a coalition of everyday people—organizers, humanitarians, doctors, artists, clergy, lawyers, and seafarers—who believe in human dignity and the power of nonviolent action. In June, we launched a globally coordinated mobilization by land, sea, and air. In Summer, we return with a unified strategy: one goal and global coordination like never before. Our efforts build on decades of Palestinian resistance and international solidarity. Though we belong to/hold different nations, faiths, and political beliefs, we are united by a single truth: the siege and genocide must end. We are independent, international, and unaffiliated with any government or political party. Our allegiance is to justice, freedom, and the sanctity of human life."

In their most recent press statement of 4 September, their representatives commented:

"The Global Sumud Flotilla stands united in its humanitarian mission to deliver urgently needed food, water, and medical supplies to the Palestinian people enduring a catastrophic genocide, famine, and spiraling health crisis caused by Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza. Our coalition - representing 44 countries - comprises doctors, nurses, elected representatives, journalists, and human rights advocates committed solely to alleviating human suffering."

Demands

The organisation has listed its demands of governments around the world, which are five-fold.

  1. Immediate humanitarian corridor. We call on all states and relevant authorities to take every possible measure to guarantee, at a minimum, the opening of a safe and continuous humanitarian corridor to Gaza. This is a moral, legal, and humanitarian imperative. Civilians must have access to life-saving aid without obstruction or delay.
  2. Protection of Civil Society Action, the Global Sumud Flotilla. We emphasize the right and duty of civil society to engage in peaceful humanitarian non-violent initiatives. The Global Sumud Flotilla, committed to delivering aid and standing in solidarity with the people of Gaza, must be fully protected. We call on governments and international institutions to safeguard the flotilla until it safely reaches Gaza, ensuring that its mission is neither obstructed nor endangered. We want to emphasize that the Global Sumud Flotilla initiative is a legal initiative and therefore can not be attacked or stopped.
  3. Responsibility of the international community. International humanitarian law obliges all states to protect civilians in conflict zones and to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Governments must act decisively to uphold these principles, without excuses or delay. This is an historic and legal responsibility that must be fulfilled.
  4. End the use of starvation as a means of warfare, which is a breach of article 54 of the extra-protocols of the Geneva Convention and to respect the right of the Palestinian people to live in peace and freedom in their own land.
  5. We recognise and remind our governments that any occupation is illegal under international law.
Use of Force

It is reported that the Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir will designate the flotilla (and those embarked) as 'terrorists'. 

The State of Israeli will therefore disrupt, intercept, arrest and detain the vessels, passengers and their crews as the concept of a sucessful blockade breach would be unconscionable for the Israeli military.

In doing so, those military units involved will be authorised to use force under Rules of Engagement (ROE) including up-to-and-including lethal force which may be used in self defence if it is reasonable, necessary and is proportionate to do so. 

Notably, proportionality has been mostly absent in this conflict, and it is reasonable to assume that this will not change at sea.

Nonetheless, the use of force and the operational conduct of the Israeli forces against humanitarian volunteers will be closely watched, especially against the context of an international armed conflict where humanitarianism has had no real standing or effect.

Protections and Risks

Without doubt, the risk to the life, liberty and well-being of the embarked crew and passengers is high. 

Those persons have received training, and it is reported; "The volunteers are taught how to raise their hands should Israeli soldiers board; the position should be comfortable enough to hold for an extended period of time, while in no way appearing threatening, which might offer the soldiers a pretext for violence."

Some vessels are registered with flag states which are subject to the protections of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982; and with nationals of many states onboard in theory, they are protected under respective national laws with individual states responsible for protecting the fundamental rights of their citizens. 

In this case those onboard may well find such customary legal protections, including reliance on the Geneva Conventions 1949 and UNHCR Humanitarian Principles as being not respected despite protestations that they are entitled to them under international law.

With the use of force against civilians in this conflict far in excess of established international humanitarian law and international human rights law, the volunteer crews and their passengers will most likely face direct threat to life, liberty and security of the person. To what extent, will be seen in due course.

The question now, is whether the current Israeli Government cares what the international community, humanitarian actors and humanitarians think or expect in terms of their stated rights to challenge and protest through the activities of the Flotilla. 

Whatever, it will fully test the emerging principle that human rights apply at sea, as they do on land.

Follow the Flotilla live online

ENDS.

 

Source: Human Rights at Sea 2025.

Certified Original. AI was not used in the drafting of this article.

Photo: Screenshot from Global Sumud Flotilla media video.

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