ListNook

Queasy_Dirt7197 Apr 30, 2026 +855

Isn't that international waters? Or part of Greece's water territory?

855

DatabaseThick5816 Apr 30, 2026 +494

They have been intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near the Greek island of Crete.

494

TimothyMimeslayer Apr 30, 2026 +378

So piracy?

378

bozza8 Apr 30, 2026 +229

Technically no, it's legal under international law to interdict vessels in international waters as part of a blockade. Israel's blockade at sea has actually been found legal in a court of international law, unlike their blockade on land. Remarkably, it's actually all legal.

229

SatisfactionDry3038 Apr 30, 2026 +90

It is actually funny how that works. Anyone can declare a legal blockade. Including Iran and the Houthis.

90

bozza8 Apr 30, 2026 +73

Yup, then they just need to enforce it according to the specific rules set out in treaty. It's a bit silly, but it's legal

73

Slimmanoman May 1, 2026 +9

It's not that silly to be legal in itself. Even war is legal, it's about putting rules around it

9

SatisfactionDry3038 Apr 30, 2026 -18

At the same time, Israel has never cared about international law, so it looks super silly when they try to hide behind it.

-18

bozza8 Apr 30, 2026 +39

If a known criminal goes and murders a bunch of people, we shouldn't tack on a bunch of speeding fines just cause he's a wrong'un, we should check he actually did speed his vehicle. There are plenty of things to be annoyed at Israel for, why these activists seem determined to test the most legal thing that Israel does with Palestine is honestly beyond me. And why a bunch of people with yachts are somehow seen as left wing champions is further beyond me.

39

Significant-Form1986 Apr 30, 2026 +13

It’s for followers in social media. Now it’s not beyond you.

13

gerkletoss Apr 30, 2026 +6

Are you suggesting they're following the rules for blockades by accident?

6

SatisfactionDry3038 Apr 30, 2026 -4

They are not following the rules for blockades. The Gaza blockade is illegal.

-4

Accujack Apr 30, 2026 +10

or the Trade Federation.

10

orkgashmo May 1, 2026 +6

Be careful if your next president asks for supreme power to stop the genocide.

6

AvailableLook5919 Apr 30, 2026 +31

Which court is that? I cannot find anything corroborating your statement.

31

bozza8 May 1, 2026 +5

This was found legal under the remit of the UN in the Palmer Report, citing the Paris Declaration of 1856, London Declaration of 1909 (Articles 1-21) and the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994) Blockades are legal, this particular one has been found to be legal by the UN and then confirmed in court by the ICJ and it's not really an open/ambiguous situation.

5

Comprehensive-Yak572 May 1, 2026 +19

a blockade may be used in wartime, but only if five legal conditions are met: it must be formally declared and publicly notified it must be effectively enforced in practice it must be applied impartially to all ships it must not block access to neutral ports or coastlines *it must not stop the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.* (What's that last one?)

19

DutyImpossible5482 May 1, 2026 +5

It's not though. Nor is this a legal blockade.

5

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 +199

[removed]

199

bigboipapawiththesos Apr 30, 2026 +86

Look at this map, my god. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/29/israeli-military-speedboats-block-gaza-bound-aid-ship This is honestly such a disrespectful move towards the EU, to preemptively capture and destroy ships and kidnap EU citizens basically on the shores of Europe.

86

fury420 May 1, 2026 +1

Seems like their choice of location might have been part of the article's mentioned coordination with the Greek government?

1

bigboipapawiththesos May 1, 2026 +3

The article only mentions the Greek government’s cooperation in returning the captured civilians. It doesn’t say anything about their approval or cooperation in the capture of these civilians.

3

fury420 May 1, 2026 +1

Indeed, that just sounds like something that would be coordinated with the Greeks prior to their interception, rather than something they'd surprise the Greek authorities with.

1

ArchmageXin Apr 30, 2026 +4

I always found it funny western political circles ridicule China's 2000 years old claim "based on some old map", but always accept Israel's 3000+ years claim as fact. :p

4

livy-aurelia Apr 30, 2026 +2

yeah i think all around we shouldnt be using iron age political maps as a standard for ours today. also hell at least china held those lands for that long, the kingdom of israel lasted like 100 years lol

2

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 +5

[removed]

5

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 -12

[removed]

-12

cheefie_weefie Apr 30, 2026 +20

Lmao this almost got me

20

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 -2

[removed]

-2

livy-aurelia Apr 30, 2026 +14

a naval blockade over 1,000 kilometers away from the blockade target and well within international waters?

14

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 -6

[deleted]

-6

livy-aurelia Apr 30, 2026 +3

you love when innocent people starve don’t you?

3

SeeShark Apr 30, 2026 +9

That "near the island of Crete" is doing a lot of work despite being completely irrelevant.

9

Incorrect-Opinion Apr 30, 2026 +37

International waters, yes. Not Greek territorial waters either, those are 6nm in the Aegean. Greece has raised concerns about its Search and Rescue zone, which is a rescue coordination responsibility, not sovereignty. That’s why Greece hasn’t filed a territorial protest, recalled its ambassador, or called the operation illegal, things you’d expect if Israel had actually entered Greek waters. The San Remo Manual on naval warfare also specifically allows a blockading state to intercept blockade-runners in international waters, so being far from Gaza doesn’t automatically mean illegal.

37

jamesbananashakes Apr 30, 2026 +117

The island of Crete is almost a thousand kilometers away from the shores of Israel and Gaza. Until further updates, it's unknown if they actually were in International waters, they were waiting for better weather conditions off the coast. That could possibly mean Israel is now openly committing acts of piracy. I've also read that they disabled the engine of one of the boats and just left them (unarmed civillians) there. That could well be (another) war-crime. Edit: source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/04/30/israeli-forces-intercept-global-sumud-flotilla-in-international-waters-near-greece

117

RobCoxxy Apr 30, 2026 +5

Wouldn't be the first time Israel has engaged in piracy engaging these flotillas in international waters. And internationally, nobody will bat an eye again.

5

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 +17

[removed]

17

Comprehensive-Yak572 May 1, 2026 +11

a blockade may be used in wartime, but only if five legal conditions are met: it must be formally declared and publicly notified it must be effectively enforced in practice it must be applied impartially to all ships it must not block access to neutral ports or coastlines *it must not stop the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.* (What's that last one?)

11

DutyImpossible5482 May 1, 2026 +4

No it's not. That only applies to military and merchant vessels, not humanitarian aid.

4

RobCoxxy May 1, 2026 +4

It is, in fact, not legal to block humanitarian aid

4

DutyImpossible5482 May 1, 2026 +2

Either way it's illegal.

2

PunksPrettyMuchDead Apr 30, 2026 +45

If a vessel has openly declared its intent to bypass your entry controls or a blockade you're under no obligation to wait until they get into your territorial waters.

45

GreenMountainDolphin Apr 30, 2026 +12

The original intent was to stop the flotilla (only those boats which wouldn't turn around), but after the flotilla actively stopped a commercial cargo-container ship bound for Israel, which nothing to do with the Gaza blockade, they were arrested. I expect a charge of piracy against the leaders of the performative activists (why performative? Because with all the large size of the flotilla, it had zero humanitarian aid on it, only food for the crews & activists. The flotilla, like the peviosu ones, was funded by Hamas and other terrorist organizations.

12

DutyImpossible5482 May 1, 2026 +4

Blockades cannot prevent humanitarian aid. Nor is the blockade of Gaza even legal.

4

FrenchMen420 Apr 30, 2026 +3

Its a legal sanctioned blockade internationally. The people trying to enter are breaking international law.

3

DutyImpossible5482 May 1, 2026 +4

"Its a legal sanctioned blockade internationally." No it;s not. There's actually quite some dispute about the legality of the blockade. And providing humanitarian aid does not violate a blockade, in fact blockades are not allowed to prevent humanitarian aid.

4

FrenchMen420 May 2, 2026 +1

Lol so anyone can just go into a war zone as long as they claim they are sending aid 😆 just cuz some dummy disputes it doesn't make it illegal and please stop getting your info from Google ai and Wikipedia. They are both not a source.

1

[deleted] May 2, 2026 +3

[deleted]

3

FrenchMen420 May 2, 2026 +1

Oh so the usa did that without permission or is this just completely unrelated because you don't know what your saying and you lost the argument

1

DutyImpossible5482 May 2, 2026 +2

Nope, but Israel has to prove that the people and ships they seized were violating the blockade by doing something else than humanitarian aid. It consistently fails to do so.

2

FrenchMen420 May 2, 2026 +1

That's not true. The only think Isreal has to do is take the aid for them. They don't have to let anyone in.

1

DutyImpossible5482 May 2, 2026 +1

" just cuz some dummy disputes it doesn't make it illegal and please stop getting your info from Google ai and Wikipedia" Instead of making shit up, do some research. Experts on international law, both from the UN and other organisations have pointed out it is illegal.

1

FrenchMen420 May 2, 2026 +1

Yes just like you said some guy disputes it.this by no means makes it illegal. I'm disputing you right now, that must mean I'm right.

1

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 -23

[removed]

-23

SeeShark Apr 30, 2026 +6

No, but pretending that all claims of antisemitism are automatically disingenuous is, in fact, antisemitism.

6

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 +4

[deleted]

4

CivilInspector4 Apr 30, 2026 +1

antisemitism is saying Hamas is defending itself and killing Israelis is legal, while complaining that Israel taking steps to not die is genocide most people are not very complicated political creatures

1

ThisOneForMee Apr 30, 2026 +62

What's the intention of these flotillas if they know they will never be allowed near Gaza?

62

Queasy_Dirt7197 Apr 30, 2026 +71

Its to raise awareness. Its as simple as that. They know damn well what will happen

71

Suspicious-Base-4815 Apr 30, 2026 +30

I dont see why they cant be allowed in Gaza. Board the ship, check the contents, if there are no weapons let them through. It is really that terrible if Gaza gets some food?

30

Marble_Turret Apr 30, 2026 +63

They don't want food in Gaza have you not been paying attention?

63

6gv5 May 1, 2026 +23

Food, yes, but more importantly they don't want foreign eyes, that is, witnesses.

23

fury420 May 1, 2026 +13

Last time Israel intercepted a flotilla they claim to have delivered the meager aid on board into Gaza, but the flotilla is about sending a message not carrying significant amounts of aid, they aren't cargo vessels it's just a bunch of small boats. If this was about getting aid to Gaza then they could just help WFP or WCK or UNICEF or one of the many other organizations trucking food into Gaza on a daily basis.

13

avidernis May 1, 2026 +5

That's not how blockades work. If you consciously allow certain ships through it's no longer considered an effective blockade and it's illegal to enforce. This is likely in law because holding and running a blockade is dangerous, so if you can't deter running the blockade that creates problems.

5

Pantalyon1 Apr 30, 2026 +11

Best case scenario they work, and they are able to start a chain that brings humanitarian aid to Gaza. The more realistic scenario is that they get boarded by Israel, bringing attention to Gaza again, while ruining the popular opinion of Israel, with the objective of electing politicians in the West that do not support Israel's attempts at ethnic cleansing aymore

11

eyl569 May 1, 2026 +3

Best case scenario is physically impossible. There's no place to offload significant amounts of seaborne cargo in Gaza. That's why the Biden administration tried that pier.

3

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 +16

[removed]

16

LicketySplit21 Apr 30, 2026 +17

Yeah the people doing more than me are doing it for selfish and nefarious greedy reasons.

17

mostafaelmadridy Apr 30, 2026 -5

Bringing awareness

-5

Preface Apr 30, 2026 +9

Is anyone in the world not aware of Palestine at this point? Seems like it probably is more harmful to the environment then it is helpful when they all toss their cellphones overboard and have essentially just wasted fuel for no tangible results.

9

ThisOneForMee Apr 30, 2026 -3

So getting arrested should be considered a win?

-3

mostafaelmadridy Apr 30, 2026 +17

Best case scenario the aid goes there, worst case scenario documenting what happens there using their huge platform, the fact that they are willing to get arrested to bring awareness is a bigger spine than all the spineless governments aren't doing

17

goldstar971 Apr 30, 2026 -4

Well for one, they occupy the israeli navy allowing people in gaza to fish.

-4

DatabaseThick5816 Apr 30, 2026 +21

Sources: https://bbc.com/news/articles/c4g4lk9m77vo

21

Worker_AndParasite Apr 30, 2026 +222

If it were Iran or China doing this we'd never hear the end of the outrage from our politicians, news etc. About how they're kidnapping civilians. But because it's Israel it's all ok.

222

Preface Apr 30, 2026 +146

China regularly harasses other countries in the South China Sea, and they actually attempt to ram ships.

146

Contundo Apr 30, 2026 +80

Casually ram ships. It’s not just attempts. They sink fishing ships.

80

SeeShark Apr 30, 2026 +56

It's hilariously ironic that u/Worker_AndParasite didn't even know about this. Just assumed that China doesn't do these things because surely they'd hear about them.

56

gerkletoss Apr 30, 2026 +92

I don't think you know much about what China gets up to in the south china sea A few examples: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgk331k44yo https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3078286/chinese-ship-hits-and-sinks-vietnamese-fishing-boat-south

92

No_Ad_7687 Apr 30, 2026 +27

These civilians came knowing very well what happened to the previous attempts (everyone got safely sent back to where they came from)

27

GreenMountainDolphin Apr 30, 2026 +28

China & Iran have done this countless times, ignorant idiot. Look it up.

28

TempomaybeALZ Apr 30, 2026 +37

It’s litreally the opposite Israel gets over the top amount of attention while countries who do this stuff on the regular like China get almost no news coverage Also what Israel did was fully legal under international law

37

green_stone May 1, 2026 +4

What do you think would happen if an illegal imigrant boat came closer to the coast of Iran or China? You don't think they would arrest the ilegal immigrants? No country in the world would let a non authorized boat to enter it's territory.

4

TheGreatButz Apr 30, 2026 +82

That's illegal piracy and kidnapping but I guess the powers at play don't care. Edit: See [Article 102 of the San Remo Manual](https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/san-remo-manual-1994/article-93-108?activeTab=), [UNCLOS Art. 87 and 92](https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf), [Art. 9 ICCPR](https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights), and the laws of the flag states of the vessels.

82

bozza8 Apr 30, 2026 +120

Technically no, it's legal under international law to interdict vessels in international waters as part of a blockade. Israel's blockade at sea has actually been found legal in a court of international law, unlike their blockade on land. Remarkably, it's actually all legal.

120

zeniiz Apr 30, 2026 +16

But MUH AGENDAAAAA. I WANT TO SEE THE AND RAGE.

16

CCPolop May 1, 2026 +1

I think you’re getting carried away. Pay attention to what they are clarifying for you.

1

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 -5

[deleted]

-5

PotatoFromFrige Apr 30, 2026 +26

Does Iran have a legally recognized blockade? If so, I would guess yes?

26

fury420 Apr 30, 2026 +5

Theoretically it might be if the ship was bound for blockaded ports and intercepted as part of an announced blockade that follows blockade law, but Iran has made no attempts to follow blockade law.

5

bozza8 Apr 30, 2026 +6

if the blockade was declared according to the legal niceties, to blockade certain countries, yes. Doesn't mean that it wouldn't be resisted by other nations, a blockade is technically an act of war after all.

6

Comprehensive-Yak572 May 1, 2026 +3

a blockade may be used in wartime, but only if five legal conditions are met: it must be formally declared and publicly notified it must be effectively enforced in practice it must be applied impartially to all ships it must not block access to neutral ports or coastlines *it must not stop the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.* (What's that last one?)

3

eyl569 May 1, 2026 +8

Gazs is getting aid via land. The previous flitillas didn't carry a meaningful amount of aid and they have no way to offloade it in Gaza if they did.

8

FrostyPiano4957 May 1, 2026 +3

Its legal: https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/san-remo-manual-1994/article-67-71

3

Pristine_Length_2348 May 1, 2026 +7

No it's not. [https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/san-remo-manual-1994/article-93-108?activeTab=](https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/san-remo-manual-1994/article-93-108?activeTab=) 102 The declaration or establishment of a blockade is prohibited if: (a) it has the sole purpose of starving the civilian population or denying it other objects essential for its survival; or (b) the damage to the civilian population is, or may be expected to be, excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated from the blockade. 103. If the civilian population of the blockaded territory is inadequately provided with food and other objects essential for its survival, the blockading party must provide for free passage of such foodstuffs and other essential supplies, subject to: (a) the right to prescribe the technical arrangements, including search, under which such passage is permitted; and (b) the condition that the distribution of such supplies shall be made under the local supervision of a Protecting Power or a humanitarian organization which offers guarantees of impartiality, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.

7

DutyImpossible5482 May 1, 2026 +2

That applies to merchant vessels. Not humanitarian vessels.

2

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 -12

[removed]

-12

Annie_Inked Apr 30, 2026 +2

Had me in the first half

2

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 -3

[deleted]

-3

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 -5

[removed]

-5

Dannyz Apr 30, 2026 +10

This comment is either ai slop or you don’t know what you’re talking about. Morally, I agree with you. Legally I do not. You string together semi applicable citations, treating them as absolute rules, skipping ALL the exceptions and carve outs in the rules. One of the many exceptions deals with whether a blockade exists, if the blockade was announced, if the ships knew of the blockade, and if said blockade is lawful. Another thing you have to analyze is if an armed conflict exists and the ships are trying to bring supplies. A third hole in your analysis is allowing exceptions for exceptional conditions, which is a wide gaping loophole. Without that analysis, the conclusion that it is “definitely” illegal is unsupported. Blockades and wartime interception is allowed under art 92. Art 87 makes an exception for international conflict. Art 110 rights of visit is only applicable during peacetime. The ICCPR reference is incomplete and ignores the issues of extraterritorial and the carve out for detention during armed conflicts. Calling this an “unlawful exercise of the right of visit” is simply the wrong framework. Calling it “kidnapping,” “armed assault,” or “trespassing” is not how international law is usually framed. Those are domestic criminal labels. International law would talk about unlawful use of force, arbitrary detention, or violations of the law of naval warfare. You throw a lot at the wall and make big claims that are not backed up by the sources you reference. This is basically sov citizen level legal analysis.

10

internetzdude Apr 30, 2026 +1

There are mighty forces in this threat desperately trying to portray this illegal seizure and detainment as some sort of legal exception. Let's just say that according to your interpretation of maritime law's exceptions it would be legal for Iran to seize a US cruise ship in the Mediterranean and detain all of its passengers. I can assure you it is not. By the way, OP stated that the action is kidnapping, armed assault, and trespassing according to the law of the flag countries. You seem to be unaware of the fact that when a vessel runs under the flag of a country it falls under the jurisdiction of that country.

1

MrRightHanded Apr 30, 2026

Israel illegally detains and kidnaps people in international waters you mean.

0

RipDiligent6195 Apr 30, 2026 -7

Arrests yourselves ya Genociders

-7

CPD1960 Apr 30, 2026 +3

Crete is nearly 1000 km from Israel. Those are very international waters!

3

Witty_Fall_2007 Apr 30, 2026 -12

Israel expanding its borders again. Will anyone stop them?

-12

UpboatBrigadier Apr 30, 2026 +3

You're gonna need a bigger flotilla.

3

cheesebabychair Apr 30, 2026 -6

Just let them go to Gaza, hamas can steal their stuff

-6

nowandlater May 1, 2026 +3

We can only dream

3

RellenD Apr 30, 2026 +12

You think Israel is trying to protect them? Lol

12

Chels_tillIDie Apr 30, 2026 +1

[ Removed by Listnook ]

1

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 -6

[deleted]

-6

ThatDM Apr 30, 2026

Yes there is a ceasefire. Everyone else ceases, and the IDF fires. Simple,

0

Contundo Apr 30, 2026

There is still a legal blockade.

0

HumansNeedNotApply1 Apr 30, 2026 -19

I guess state sanctioned piracy is fully in vogue.

-19

[deleted] Apr 30, 2026 -15

[removed]

-15

Shibbystix Apr 30, 2026 -1

KIDNAPS. not "detain" You dont "detain" people against their will in international waters, or the waters of another nation. That word evokes legality. Which this contained nonethereof

-1

Ornaop Apr 30, 2026 +13

You don’t kidnap people just to free them either

13

Light_inc Apr 30, 2026 -16

So Israel is straight up running down a list of crimes against humanity

-16

Shady_bookworm51 Apr 30, 2026 -11

so that is how the media is going to spin kidnapping now?

-11

Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla near Crete and detains 175 activists

💬 Send a Message

120 Comments