Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan has voiced strong condemnation over Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Foreign Office (FO) described the detention of international activists aboard the flotilla as an outright violation of international and humanitarian law, warning that such actions put innocent lives in danger.
The statement noted that Israel’s move reflects a recurring pattern of aggression and its unlawful siege of Gaza, which has left over two million Palestinians in extreme hardship and deprivation.
It underlined that the obstruction of humanitarian relief constitutes a serious breach of Israel’s obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Pakistan renewed its call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, the removal of the blockade on Gaza, and the guarantee of unimpeded humanitarian access.
It further demanded the swift release of all activists and aid workers detained from the flotilla, compliance with humanitarian and human rights law, and accountability for Israel’s continued defiance of international legal frameworks.
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm and enduring solidarity with the Palestinian people, supporting their struggle for the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the violent attack by Israeli forces on the Samud Gaza flotilla, a fleet of 40 boats carrying more than 450 humanitarian volunteers from 44 different nations.
In a statement shared on X, the premier demanded the urgent release of all aid workers taken into custody, pointing out that their only act was to bring relief supplies to the distressed people of Palestine.
He described the attack as an act of cruelty that must come to an end, stressing that peace should be given a fair chance and that humanitarian assistance must reach those who are in dire need.
Israeli naval forces carried out an operation against the "Global Sumud Flotilla," a humanitarian convoy heading towards Gaza with the aim of delivering essential supplies.
The flotilla consisted of more than 40 civilian boats carrying nearly 500 international activists, including lawmakers, lawyers and campaigners from different countries.
According to organisers, Israeli forces intercepted 13 of the vessels carrying foreign activists and aid, while the remaining 30 boats managed to continue their course towards the blockaded Palestinian territory.
The convoy had departed from Spain last month, setting out to challenge Israel’s long-standing blockade on Gaza. Loaded with food and medicine, the flotilla sought to deliver assistance to civilians as the United Nations has warned of famine conditions already gripping the enclave.