Pakistan: The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday strongly condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, as well as the detention and reported mistreatment of humanitarian workers onboard.
In an official statement, the FO described the action as an “unlawful interception” by Israeli forces and termed the subsequent detention of activists as arbitrary, calling for their immediate release. It also expressed concern over reported mistreatment of those detained during the operation.
The statement specifically noted that among those detained was humanitarian activist Saad Edhi, son of social worker Faisal Edhi and grandson of renowned philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi.
Pakistan demanded that all detained activists be released without delay and urged the international community to ensure their safety, dignity, and fundamental rights while in custody.
The FO further stated that Pakistani diplomatic missions in the region are in close contact to secure the safe return of any Pakistani nationals involved in the flotilla incident.
The Global Sumud Flotilla reportedly departed from Türkiye last week as part of an activist effort to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The FO noted that similar flotilla attempts have been intercepted previously, including an incident last month in international waters near Greece, where most activists were later expelled.
The latest interception has drawn wider international scrutiny. Earlier this week, Pakistan joined nine other countries—including Türkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, and Spain—in a joint statement condemning Israel’s actions against the flotilla.
Israel maintains a naval and land blockade on Gaza, which has been in place since 2007. The territory has faced severe shortages of food, medicine, and essential supplies during the ongoing conflict, which escalated after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.