Pakistan condemns mistreatment of Gaza flotilla activists following global outcry over video posted by Israeli minister

The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday condemned Israel’s unlawful interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters as well as the arbitrary detention. reported mistreatment of humanitarian workers.

The statement came a day after Israel’s far-right national security minister posted a videoshowingdetained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla kneeling with their hands tied. foreheads on the ground, sparkinginternational condemnation.

In the statement released on Thursday, the FO said, “The government of Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the unlawful interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israeli occupying forces in the international waters as well as arbitrary detention. reported mistreatment of humanitarian workers onboard.”

The statement said that those detained also reportedly included humanitarian activistSaad Edhi, son of prominent social worker Faisal Edhi. grandson of late philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi.

“Pakistan demands the immediate release of all illegally detained activists. It also calls on the international community to ensure the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of those detained,” it said.

The FO said it remains in “close contact” with Pakistani diplomatic missions in the region to ensure the safe return of any detained Pakistani nationals.

The Global Sumud Flotilla had set sail from Turkiye last week in the latest attempt by activists to breach Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory. after Israeli forcesintercepteda previous convoy last month.

Earlier this week, Pakistan and nine other countriesissueda joint statement condemning Israel’s interception of the flotilla. The joint statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives,. Spain.

Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.

During the Gaza conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, the territory has suffered severe shortages offood, medicine. other essential supplies, with Israel at times halting aid deliveries entirely.

A previous flotilla attempt was intercepted last month in international waters off Greece, with most activists expelled to Europe.