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Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/skgpt2erwl#autoplay
Taking the Wind Out of the Gaza Flotilla's Sails
(Ynet News) Nitsana Darshan-Leitner - The stunning preemptive interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla far from Israel's shores was a model of professionalism, discipline and strategic clarity. Once again, the IDF, the Navy and Israel's intelligence services demonstrated that national security can be defended firmly, intelligently and without unnecessary drama. There were no injuries, no chaos, no televised confrontation, and no manufactured spectacle for these activists eager to provoke headlines. This time Israel moved fast and sucked all the wind out of their sails. There was no grandstanding, no CNN, no Gretas, and no opportunity to turn sailors defending their country into villains for international consumption. The naval blockade of Gaza has been widely recognized in international law as a lawful security measure when properly declared and enforced. In that context, publicly declared attempts to breach a lawful sea blockade must be viewed as unlawful extremist conduct rather than legitimate protest or humanitarian action. Accordingly, Israel is required to take the necessary and proportionate measures available under international law to enforce its rights and ensure the integrity of the blockade, including actions on the high seas. The writer is president of Shurat HaDin Law Center.