This paper is going to research whether an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally is lawful under international legal principles. This paper will narrow the issue to the blockade of the Gaza strip that is in effect at the moment. It will further narrow the focus to analyze the specific acts of Israel against a Turkish humanitarian flotilla in the high seas that occurred in May 2010.
This paper will define what constitutes a blockade and whether they are legal under International Law. International law and policy arguments will be made through out the paper.