Turkey to refer Israel's blockade of Gaza Strip to The Hague

Chinese government has been killing many Uyghur ,Tibet and Mongolian almost everyday. China must be called by the International Court of Justice ,too. China is the largest non democratic country in the world.

If the roles had been reversed and those activists had beaten the crap out of Turkish Soldiers, not only would they have been shot, but their heads would have been taken too. The Turks would have placed those heads on poles as a warning to other activists. Just look at the way that Turkey deals with it's Kurd problem. It's common knowledge and all over the internet. There's a Kurdish car bombed by the Turks on a mountain road and the people are all dismembered. One of them appears to have been a woman.

He is enjoying his favorite posture of staying above the fray.

The rising sun over Middle East!

I will make sure that no product made in Turkey is purchased by my family. It's time to send these turkeys a message. BOYCOTT TURKEY.

President Obama should cancel the Missile Defense System location from Turkey to Israel or it could be an issue in the 2012 elections.

And Turkey, not bordering the Gaza strip and not a party to the conflict, has no legal standing to get involved. Turkey, illegally occupying Cyprus since the 1960's in the form of its self-declared "State of North Cyprus" enclave, rejected by the world as illegitimate, would seem to have no standing to complain about other occupied enclaves. Perhaps Israel should adopt Turkey's practice, declare the "State of Judea and Samaria" in the 50% of the WB that Jews live on. Then "Judea and Samaria" and "North Cyprus" can recognize each other, and be recognized by Turkey and Israel, too.

It is not clear that the ICJ will hear an appeal by Turkey if Israel refuses to abide by the decision. The way to involve the ICJ is for Turkey to get the UN General Assembly to request an "advisory opinion" from the ICJ on whether the naval blockade of Gaza is legal or not. One legal claim could be that Gaza is an occupied territory and thus Israel is only entitled to prevent ships from entering its territorial waters, but not to forbid shipping in international waters. The fact is that the status of the Naval Blockade is controversial (as is the status of Gaza occupation). The Parker commission was not of legal authority, and its determination was based on opinions by the two sides. The ICJ has a respectable legal standing and its opinion will be authoritative.

The International Court is an excellent place to fight for justice.

he'll also bring up the little matter of Turkey's 30 year illegal occupation of Northern Cyprus, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

All the saber-rattling by talkbackers in another article are below the "moron level". It would be VERY wise of Turkey to get a ruling BEFORE they confront the IDF at sea. Imagine the reaction if they didn't... and the blockade is declared legal after the fact. Turkey then becomes the aggressor, committing an act of war against a legal blockade. NATO would not support the aggression of one of its member states, turkey gets labelled an aggressor, possibly censured by the ICJ and the UN for its aggression and becomes the laughing-stock of the Muslim world. From a purely military point of view, it would be prudent of Turkey to note that since Pearl Harbor, 70 years ago, the decisive factor in naval battles has been air power.

Turkey is using the flotilla incident as a tool. Of course it was a tragic incident, and Turkey cannot overlook the murder of nine of its citizens, but still Turkey’s main issue with Israel is the Palestinian Question, and the flotilla incident was merely a handle which Israel conveniently delivered to Turkey, and Turkey is using this handle to open a second front against Israel. If you, Mr. Netanyahu, had apologized, you would have cheated Turkey of this tool, and Turkey would have been reduced to the subsidiary role of supporting the Palestinian bid at the UN without the means to open a side battle. But you, Mr. Netanyahu, are a fool and no one can cure a fool.

Israel should refer Turkey's illegal bombing of Kurdish positions in Iraq this week to the Hague. Turkey is simply trying to divert attention from its attack on Kurdish positions and the fact that Iran's Revolutionary Guards has now started to attack Kurdish positions on its border.

And one that has no bases in international law. It will be overturned by the ICJ. Far more serious though, and what has been grabbing the headlines, is Israel's customary use of excessive and unreasonable force. Murdering Turkish nationals in international waters carries a price. The street bully is now overmatched. Best run and hide as is commonplace for those of that ilk.

Just tell them that Israel has the right to murder women and children for the last 60 years because of the Holocaust. Or even better just tell them God made Israel become the ME Nazis. That will work, right?

Time for Israel to acknowledge the Armenian genocide and request that Turkey apologize. And why not help Cyprus to be liberated once and for all of the Turkish occupation of it northern part? The unjust moves by Turkey could be met by just moves by Israel.

a new world order is arising, and israeli's days of arrogant, unhindered self-dealing are swiftly drawing to a close

Who remembers the "Friendship Treaty" Turkey signed with Nazi Germany on June 18, 1941 that lasted for almost the entirety of WW2? What about the Armenian genocide, the conquest of norther Cyprus and the Kurdish expulsions/murders? Perhaps it is the current Turkish regime who should be dragged in front of a court. What hypocrites.

Fine go to the Hague, but the moment they send a naval ship to try and break the blockade, a war will erupt. Is this what they want? Your neighbor is butchering his people thousands at a time, go help them, or is it because it is an Arab country that you don't care?

The Israeli government has lulled most Israelis into the false belief that the boycott is legal under international law. Actually the point is far from settled. Many experts dispute it, and the first whammy to hit Israel as a result of Turkey’s action may well be a decision by the ICJ that the boycott is indeed illegal. This is why Israel has been so intent on delaying the publication of the Palmer report. So what to do? As I keep telling everybody, Turkey’s basic issue with Israel is not the flotilla and the nine dead. It is Palestine, Palestine, and Palestine. Turkey’s government is in tune with the sentiments of its people and with its newly achieved regional role, and therefore Turkey has espoused the Palestinian cause. Want to get out of trouble with the Turks and the rest of the world? Very simple. Make nice to the Palestinians, including Hamas.

Turkish stance against this is real proof of his national dignity and proud. we Muslims feel proud on this. we should condemn this act of Israel and his god father america and European countries. there is no ambiguities nothing equivocal what action done by Israel is neither justified nor justifiable.

The turkish stance is akin to an early declaration of war. The Turks are playing with issues that less a matter of legality and more a matter of 'flexing muscle'. The Turks need to be careful as a counter claim would be just as easy to make to the ICJ regarding their discriminate policy towards Kurdish militants and its affect on Kurdish civilians. If the Turks carry on with this stance it could and probably will escalate should there be a navel conflict between Israeli and Turkish navy's.

it did not turn to the Hague for Gaddafi/Assad/Ahmadinejad/Hezbollah/Hamas or their own oppression of Kurds, genocide of Armenians, illegal occupation of northern Cyprus, dropping chemical weapons on Iraqi kurds, etc, but turns to the Hague for Israel defending itself from a terrorist organization. That's two self goals Turkey strikes in one move.

And what of the Armenian genocide?

Thank GOD for Turkey!

The turkish really intend to drag a EU state member into this mess? Seriously, the cipriots won't remain quiet if a turkish ship invade their territorial waters. Secondly, what exactly Ankara meant with "patrolling" the med? Allowing arms cargo ships to go to Lebanon? So far as I can recall, thats the only situation a civilian ship (also breaking the blockade) is intercepted by the israeli navy. About Edorgan going to Gaza, his ship wont be the first trying to do it, and is things keep escalating like they doing, it is unlikly that he will step inside a conflic zone.

Boats approaching Gaza may be peacefully boarded and searched for weapons. After the inspection the boat s may proceed to Gaza. This was the style of America's blockade of Cuba. There is no good reason to bar all boats from approaching Gaza if they do not carry contraband. Israel simply wants to retain complete control over the Palestinian people.

I'm not standing for everyhing Turkey has done for years but this is a good pull. Israel needs to learn a lesson and not like always, it becomes like WE want.

At least the masks are off.

and the UN says its legal...so now what does the world say..they all agree?? it';s very sad that it's out this we might have WW3

No contest for authority in the ME is complete without a challenge to Israel

Instead of climbing down the tree Erdogan climbs even higher. In his persistent obsession not to appear wrong to the world and his voters he'll take Turkey down with him.

The response of the Turkish government is like a small child who, finding out that he can't get his way, throws a huge hissy fit. The Turks pushed for a UN commission, probably thinking that like any UN body, it would be reflexively anti-Israel. Instead, it came out with a reasonable report. It called out the Turks for their role in this fiasco, and did not support their position around the blockade. But, rather then reacting like adults, they are throwing a huge fit trying to bluster Israel into caving to their unreasonable demands. If you step back, what in the world is Turkey's legitimate security and national interest in Gaza? Answer is - nothing, other then the politics of Erdogan trying to position himself as the new Khalif and leader of the Moslem world. On the other hand, Israel has very legitimate security interests in keeping arms out of Gaza and out of Hamas's hands. Erdogan and the Turks better be careful, they are playing with fire here and all one can hope is that there are some sane adults somewhere in this Turkish government who will calm things down.

Turkey's intention to refer Israel's blockade of Gaza to the ICJ in Hague, like its intention to send naval vessels to accompany ships to Gaza, is a step of desperation and frustration at having been foiled by the Palmer Report. The UN-appointed Palmer Committee, thought EWrdogan, would surely find for Turkey - but things didn't turno out the way Turkey had planned.

Acknowledging the blockade was/is LEGAL .. And here comes Erdogan the doofus can run but not hide FROM THE TRUTH STARING HIM in the face... What will he do next...me wonders.. Threats galore..now its the Hague? So be it but You will be the losers Mr.Erdogan ..For you will be the laughing stock of the whole world..Is it worth it ?

what took so long? Oh, never mind. Special relationships, no doubt. Don't see any US war criminals referred to The Hague either