Letter

In response to Israel’s interception of the aid flotilla is a clear violation of international

The ICJ and Israel’s occupation of Palestine

Donald Rothwell writes: “Israel can certainly exercise control over the 12 nautical mile territorial sea off Gaza’s shores. Its closure of the territorial sea to foreign vessels would be justified under international law as a security measure, as well as to ensure the safety of neutral vessels due to the ongoing war.”

I cannot see how that squares with the opinion of the ICJ that the Israeli occupation of Palestine is illegal. Israel continues to deny Palestinians and others access to Palestine’s territorial sea, and has banned the construction of a UN-backed modern port in Palestine for 20 years.

The leadership of our country continues to use the “far away” excuse in which Palestine is apparently further away than Ukraine, to whom we provide troop support (albeit in Britain) and armaments. Spain, with 45 Sumud crew, and Italy both sent naval escorts to watch over the Sumud flotilla, although what they did to try to stop the illegal interceptions on the high seas is not clear. Our government and Britain’s were asked to send air cover for the flotilla, but did nothing to protect the six Australian and 13 UK citizens aboard. Do our citizens rank lower than Ukrainians?

— Geoff Taylor from Borlu (Perth)