Since October 2000, Israel has been involved in an ongoing armed conflict with the terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip.

As part of this armed conflict, these terrorist organizations deliberately target Israeli civilians by launching deadly rocket and missile attacks.

A significant quantity of the arms and ammunition used by these terrorist organizations is smuggled into the Gaza strip on a route involving transfer by sea.

In Resolution 1860 (January 8, 2009), the UN Security Council called upon all Member States to intensify efforts to sustain calm in the Gaza Strip, including to prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition to the Gaza Strip. In resolution 1373 (September 28, 2001), the UN Security Council called upon States to refrain from the provision of any form of support to terrorist organizations and to eliminate the supply of weapons to such groups.

According to the Law of Armed Conflict at Sea, a State which is a party to an armed conflict has the right to conduct a visit and search of merchant vessels outside of the territorial waters of neutral States to the extent that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the vessels are carrying contraband.

"Contraband" consists of goods destined for the enemy of a belligerent which may be susceptible to use in an armed conflict. The most obvious examples of contraband are arms and munitions.

If a visit and search at sea is impossible or unsafe, or in other cases in which the captain of the vessel consented, the State may divert the merchant vessel to an appropriate area or port in order to exercise the right to conduct a visit and search.

If the merchant vessel is found to be carrying contraband, both the contraband and the vessel may be seized and confiscated.

Israel respects the freedom of navigation on the high seas and a flag State's jurisdiction as to vessels flying its flag. However, during an armed conflict, under the Law of Armed Conflict at Sea, the right to conduct a visit and search and the right to capture contraband supersede these concepts.

"Victoria" is a merchant vessel, flying the flag of Liberia, owned by a German corporation and operated by a French corporation. The ship first visited a port in Syria. The ship was later stopped and boarded on route from Turkey to Egypt.

The IDF had reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel was carrying arms and ammunition destined for terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.

Therefore, according to the Law of Armed Conflict at Sea, the IDF had the right to conduct a visit and search on board the vessel, when in international waters.

It should be noted that such transfer of weaponry to terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip constitutes a blatant violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1860 and 1373.

The IDF initially approached the vessel in international waters, and consensually boarded and searched the vessel. Force was not used during the operation.

Since arms were found on board the vessel, it was diverted to an Israeli port in order to facilitate a more thorough examination of its cargo. Under the Law or Armed Conflict at Sea, Israel has the right to capture and confiscate any arms found on board.

The operation is ongoing. Further updates will be provided as available.