Statement from MSB sources on the Sumud Flotilla: Greece ignored its obligations

According to a statement from Ministry of National Defense sources, the intervention by the Israeli navy in international waters against the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, has sparked debates regarding international law and maritime jurisdiction.

It was determined that during the intervention against the flotilla, which was located approximately 80 nautical miles west of Crete and within Greece's search-and-rescue responsibility zone, communication systems were jammed, harassment was carried out with unmanned aerial vehicles, and some ships were boarded.

The sources pointed out that because the incident involved civilian elements carrying humanitarian aid, it violated fundamental principles of international law, primarily the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They further stated that norms regarding the right to free navigation, the right to life, and the protection of civilian property were undermined by such interventions.

The sources made the following assessment:

"Following the intervention in question, the fact that the ship carrying the crew detained by Israeli elements was directed to a Greek port and that this process was not prevented by Greek authorities has increased criticism of the Athens administration's stance.

It is stated that the policies of Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Defense Minister Dendias are creating controversy regarding Greece's maritime jurisdiction and sovereign rights. Greece's passive stance toward an incident occurring within its own search-and-rescue responsibility zone demonstrates that it has ignored its international obligations.

This stance by Greece is being criticized in Greek public opinion as 'negatively affecting the delicate balances in the region and leading to the weakening of Greece's claims regarding maritime jurisdiction on the international stage.'

When Israel's military activities in Gaza and its interventions against humanitarian aid initiatives are considered together, these developments show that international legal norms are increasingly being called into question on the ground. This situation has the potential to affect not only regional security balances but also the sustainability of the law-based order on a global scale."