Ed, The repelling was mis-guided, I'm not supporting their method of apprehending the vessel. They (IDF) became overpowered,beaten, one soldier got stabbed and 2 soldiers had their pistols stripped. They used firepower as a last resort, when the situation was perceived as life threatening. Obviously the IDF intelligence should have been more accurate so this skirmish shouldn't have occurred in the first place. The use of blockade in International Waters is playing by the military "rule" books. I didn't make it up. If Israel chose to use blockade as a method to search craft for possible weapons or materials to use for weaponry, I don't have a problem with that. If they are blocking all humanitarian aid and punishing the people of Gaza on purpose, I am opposed to it. My understanding is that they are allowing humanitarian aid to Gaza and transfer 10-15,000 tons per week. Like you, I can only go by what I have read. I have also read that some of the goods never reach the Palestinian people and are confiscated by Hamas, or sold.