Gaza Flotilla - genuine peace activists or Hamas puppets?

People have been saying that for a year

These are desperate, starving people. Do you really think they’ll greet the boat waving scarves and singing their thanks? It’s very likely they would storm the boat resulting in a human crush, or find a hiding place they could smuggle themselves back in. The crew are vulnerable to being taken hostage themselves under false pretences by Hamas, which would have unthinkable consequences. You’re all utterly mad

Because, eventually, Israel will have to relent. The world is turning against them and soon enough, they’ll have to allow proper aid to flow into Gaza.

What on earth does the holocaust have to do with the Israeli blockade of Gaza?

And sending ships to protect the flotilla will help the Gazans how exactly?

Did I say it was?

People deny the holocaust. It isn’t due to lack of coverage or awareness. It’s a political stance (a horrific one).

Well clearly they have.

After Israel attacked the last flotilla, several countries have sent ships to protect the flotilla this time. So they’ve opened the eyes of multiple governments to the breaking of international law.

They’re not helping!!!!!! The only result will be an increase in their insta following.

It’s not antisemitic to criticise Israel.

clearly the last two years (and well before that!) haven’t been enough, because there are still people who deny what Israel are doing.

I think they are brave peace activists... It's so easy to sit around doing nothing to help - watching the news and saying 'how awful' and then forgetting about it.

Because 2 solid years of relentless news coverage, marches, acts of terrorism and antisemitism isn’t enough?

Or highlighting the man made famine and genocide in Palestine.

Well, of course you would think that. It shows that Israel is breaking international law, so instead of admitting that Israel are wrong (which you can do!), you label everyone who is risking their lives as a narcissist and a terrorist.

No we are not being obtuse. Perhaps you havent read the comments on this thread and on others. There are people who genuinely believe the aid is meaningful and delivering it is important.

It is refreshing to have someone adnitting its just a gesture. thank you.

You think its a worthwhile gesture. I thinks its pointless, narcissistic and a waste of time & resources.

And I think the people involved are far too close to Hamas and other extremists and should not be indulged.

What a stupid question honestly

You are absolutely right it’s not just about delivery aid. It’s showing innocent civilians in Gaza that the world has not forgotten them. It’s showing the current Israeli Government and those operating a supremacist policy, that the world knows about and disagrees with their policy and genocide.

This is the link to the 1994 manual, btw, for some reason it won't allow me to embed it - https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/san-remo-manual-1994

I think you and @SharonEllis are being deliberately obtuse here, so I will spell it out for you in simple terms.

Under the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994), 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.

Thus, the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza is illegal under point 5 - the purpose of the blockade is to stop the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Yes, the amounts of aid being carried are symbolic, because it would simply be impossible for anyone other than a coordinated effort of multiple governments to deliver the level of aid needed into Gaza at this point.

The flotillas are instead highlighting how Israel are breaking international law. The point of the flotilla is to show this. Israel is using its naval blockade to prevent the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians. The fact that there was an offer from the church to distribute it is immaterial, as this would not involve the lifting of the blockade.

Again: the point of the flotilla is to highlight Israel's constant violations of international law.

I think they're really brave

Explain it to me so.

That's a new one! I thought the brave flotilla was stepping in where evil governments had failed. But no, it really IS entirely performative.

So for the mission to be successful the aid has to not be distributed?

The blockade is illegal. It cannot allow the blocking of humanitarian aid. The entire point of the flotillas is to bring attention to Israel’s illegal acts. Having the aid distributed (which yes, is a symbolic amount), would defeat the entire purpose.

Its so ridiculous. What a waste of everyone's time.

Yes it's about time Hamas got to wear their uniforms again, we haven't seen them for a while. Not since the last hostage release show, I think.

But @SharonEllis I think Greta and co will be assuming they will get free flights home again like last time. I think the IDF should just calmly remove the humanitarian aid from the boats this time and leave the crew on board.

Get some publicity out of delivering it and request that they come back in a few weeks time with some more aid.