Israel’s Attack on the Mavi Marmara and the Illegal Blockade of Gaza
Israel’s attack on the Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010, as the ship was attempting to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza, was a war crime.
By Jeremy R. Hammond | May 31, 2019
Nine years ago today, on May 31, 2010, Israeli military forces intercepted a humanitarian flotilla intent on breaking Israel’s illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip, attacked the flagship Mavi Marmara in international waters, and killed nine civilians on board—a war crime. This action was naturally defended by the Israeli government and its supporters, but the arguments put forth to try to justify the crime demonstrate the extraordinary dishonesty required to do so.