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Labour MP confirms international law breach; ex-ambassador says David Lammy is silencing legal input to protect Israel
The UK government is under growing pressure after a Labour MP and a former British ambassador accused ministers of failing to defend international law following the Israeli military’s armed seizure of the UK-flagged humanitarian vessel Madleen in international waters.
In an official letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer dated June 9, Rachael Maskell MP confirmed the Madleen—which was carrying aid to Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition—was intercepted by Israeli forces.
She called the act “a breach of international maritime law” and demanded the government “do everything in its power” to secure the release of the unarmed civilian crew, including climate activist Greta Thunberg.
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Maskell’s letter warns that Israel’s actions have no legal justification, as the ship was not in Israeli waters, and its mission—to deliver medical and food aid to Gaza’s besieged population—was explicitly humanitarian.
“The ship was intercepted and boarded in international waters… this is in breach of international maritime law,” she wrote. “These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalised for delivering aid.”
She also urged the UK government to recognise the State of Palestine, halt arms-related exports, and act to stop “the risk of famine” now threatening Gaza’s 2.1 million* people.
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But while Maskell’s letter lays out the legal case clearly, new claims from former UK Ambassador Craig Murray suggest the Foreign Office is actively trying to suppress those very conclusions.
Writing on social media, Murray says David Lammy’s office has issued an edict blocking normal civil service procedure, ordering that all government responses to the Madleen incident be kept away from Legal Advisers, the Maritime Section and the Royal Navy.
“Contrary to all Whitehall practice and culture, edict has gone out… that replies and statements re the Madleen are NOT to be cleared with Legal Advisers,”
Murray stated.
“Lammy is seeking to bypass [them] because they will all say Israel acted illegally.”
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If true, the claim implies the UK government is deliberately shielding Israel from legal accountability—even when a British-flagged ship is involved, and British citizens may have been taken captive.
Mr Murray also pointed to Article 87 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation in international waters, and places exclusive jurisdiction over a ship with its flag state—in this case, the UK.
Without a UN mandate or active hostilities, Israel’s raid on the Madleen could be classed as a hostile act against a UK vessel, or even maritime piracy.
Murray’s allegation raises further questions: If the ship had been seized by Russia or Iran, would the UK government still stay silent?
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If even Labour MPs are now publicly acknowledging that a British vessel was illegally raided and British citizens detained, the government can no longer hide behind diplomatic language.
David Lammy should be made to answer a simple question: Is the UK prepared to let another country attack its ships, confiscate humanitarian aid, and abduct civilians without consequence—so long as that country is Israel?
Silence now doesn’t just enable law-breaking – it rewrites the rules of international order, and shows the world that British sovereignty is optional—when the violator is a political ally.
*Note: While the population of Gaza is still officially cited as “around 2.1 million,” more than 60,000 people are now believed to have been killed since the escalation began in October 2023. Assuming no significant inflow or outflow of people—and acknowledging that conditions are hardly conducive to childbirth—a back-of-the-envelope estimate would place the current population closer to 2.04 million. However, due to the chaos of war, mass displacement, and the collapse of civil registration systems, no precise figure can be confirmed.
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Did the UK government suppress legal advice after Israeli raid on British aid ship?
Share this post:
Labour MP confirms international law breach; ex-ambassador says David Lammy is silencing legal input to protect Israel
The UK government is under growing pressure after a Labour MP and a former British ambassador accused ministers of failing to defend international law following the Israeli military’s armed seizure of the UK-flagged humanitarian vessel Madleen in international waters.
In an official letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer dated June 9, Rachael Maskell MP confirmed the Madleen—which was carrying aid to Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition—was intercepted by Israeli forces.
She called the act “a breach of international maritime law” and demanded the government “do everything in its power” to secure the release of the unarmed civilian crew, including climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Five books are gone – 45 to go!
Just click on the image, make your donation
and provide your details!
Maskell’s letter warns that Israel’s actions have no legal justification, as the ship was not in Israeli waters, and its mission—to deliver medical and food aid to Gaza’s besieged population—was explicitly humanitarian.
“The ship was intercepted and boarded in international waters… this is in breach of international maritime law,” she wrote. “These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalised for delivering aid.”
She also urged the UK government to recognise the State of Palestine, halt arms-related exports, and act to stop “the risk of famine” now threatening Gaza’s 2.1 million* people.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
But while Maskell’s letter lays out the legal case clearly, new claims from former UK Ambassador Craig Murray suggest the Foreign Office is actively trying to suppress those very conclusions.
Writing on social media, Murray says David Lammy’s office has issued an edict blocking normal civil service procedure, ordering that all government responses to the Madleen incident be kept away from Legal Advisers, the Maritime Section and the Royal Navy.
Murray stated.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
If true, the claim implies the UK government is deliberately shielding Israel from legal accountability—even when a British-flagged ship is involved, and British citizens may have been taken captive.
Mr Murray also pointed to Article 87 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation in international waters, and places exclusive jurisdiction over a ship with its flag state—in this case, the UK.
Without a UN mandate or active hostilities, Israel’s raid on the Madleen could be classed as a hostile act against a UK vessel, or even maritime piracy.
Murray’s allegation raises further questions: If the ship had been seized by Russia or Iran, would the UK government still stay silent?
Five books are gone – 45 to go!
Just click on the image, make your donation
and provide your details!
If even Labour MPs are now publicly acknowledging that a British vessel was illegally raided and British citizens detained, the government can no longer hide behind diplomatic language.
David Lammy should be made to answer a simple question: Is the UK prepared to let another country attack its ships, confiscate humanitarian aid, and abduct civilians without consequence—so long as that country is Israel?
Silence now doesn’t just enable law-breaking – it rewrites the rules of international order, and shows the world that British sovereignty is optional—when the violator is a political ally.
*Note: While the population of Gaza is still officially cited as “around 2.1 million,” more than 60,000 people are now believed to have been killed since the escalation began in October 2023. Assuming no significant inflow or outflow of people—and acknowledging that conditions are hardly conducive to childbirth—a back-of-the-envelope estimate would place the current population closer to 2.04 million. However, due to the chaos of war, mass displacement, and the collapse of civil registration systems, no precise figure can be confirmed.
Share this post:
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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