Pakistan on Thursday condemned Israel’s “dastardly attack” on the Gaza Sumud flotilla, demanding the immediate release of the detained activists, including former Pakistani Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, and urging accountability for Israel’s “repeated violations of international law”.
On Wednesday, the aid-carrying flotilla said[1] Israeli forces were intercepting its latest bid to reach Gaza, and that 13 of its vessels had been intercepted so far by Israel, while 30 were still en route to reach the coast of Gaza. The 45-vessel flotilla, with activists and politicians, including Greta Thunberg on board, left Spain last month to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where the UN warns of famine.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, “Pakistan strongly condemns the dastardly attack by Israeli forces on the 40 vessel Samud Gaza flotilla, carrying over 450 humanitarian workers from 44 countries. We hope and pray for the safety of all those who have been illegally apprehended by Israeli forces and call for their immediate release.“
He continued: “Their crime was to carry aid for the hapless Palestinian people,” he said, adding that peace must be given a chance and humanitarian aid must reach those in need.
“This barbarity must end. Peace must be given a chance, and humanitarian aid must reach those in need.”
Separately, the Foreign Office (FO) also strongly condemned the attack, stating: “The unlawful detention of international activists onboard the flotilla constitutes yet another flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law by Israel, and endangers the lives of innocent civilians.”
Calling it a deliberate attempt to obstruct humanitarian relief in the Palestinian enclave, the FO noted, “this reprehensible act is part of Israel’s ongoing pattern of aggression and its illegal blockade of Gaza, which has caused immense human suffering and deprivation for over two million Palestinians.”
It demanded the “immediate release of all humanitarian workers and activists on board the flotilla”, urging Israel to respect international law. The FO also called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its “repeated violations of international law.”
“Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support and solidarity with the Palestinian people in their just struggle for the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination and for the establishment of a viable, independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” it added.
Flagrant violation of international law: FM Dar
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called Israel’s attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla “a flagrant violation of international law”, demanding the release of the arrested activists.
“Pakistan strongly condemns Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla and detention of international activists in flagrant violation of international law. We demand an immediate ceasefire, lifting of the blockade, swift release of activists and unhindered aid to Gaza,“ he wrote on X.
Ex-senator Mushtaq Ahmed on board flotilla arrested
Ex-senator and Jamat-i-Islami leader Mushtaq Ahmad, who is leading the Pakistani delegation on the Global Sumud Flotilla, was arrested by Israel after Israeli forces boarded the vessel, according to advocacy group Pak-Palestine Forum.
In a post on X, the group said, “Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan arrested by Israel.”
The advocacy group further wrote: “Only one ship has managed to escape, i.e., [the] observer boat, whose duty was to collect information and escape. Our second delegate, Syed Uzair Nizami, was sailing on the observer boat and shared the information regarding the interception of Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan’s ship.”
Former senator Faisal Javed Khan took to X to pray for Khan’s safety, saying “let us all condemn the aggression by Israel that has been unleashed upon these peaceful humanitarians, who sought only to deliver aid and amplify the cry for justice.”