By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, calling the move a grave violation of international law and an assault on a vital humanitarian mission aimed at aiding Gaza.

The Foreign Ministry said Thursday that the flotilla, which symbolized global solidarity with Palestinians, was unlawfully targeted, endangering hundreds of activists on board.

On September 16, Pakistan, along with 15 other countries, had issued a joint statement voicing concern for the flotilla’s safety. The ministry stressed that the security and well-being of Pakistani nationals aboard remain of “paramount importance.”

Although Pakistan does not recognize Israel, Islamabad said it is working closely with international partners in the region to secure the immediate release of its citizens and ensure their safe return.

“Pakistan continues to coordinate with allied nations to safeguard its nationals, reaffirming its commitment to their swift and safe return,” the statement added.

Several Pakistani including its leader Senator Mushtaq Khan from Jamaat-e-Islami have been detained by Israeli forces.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising dozens of civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid, was bound for Gaza when it was intercepted by Israeli forces.

Israeli naval forces attacked a Gaza-bound flotilla late Wednesday as it neared the enclave’s coast, detaining at least 443 activists on board, organizers said, ccording to Anadolu Agency

According to the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza (ICBSG), 22 vessels were seized by Israeli forces, while 19 others are believed to have been intercepted but not yet fully documented. Of the remaining four ships, two support vessels turned back, while the Marinet continued its course toward Gaza despite delays caused by technical malfunctions.

The flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid and medical supplies, departed at the end of August. It marked the first attempt in years by nearly 50 ships sailing together toward Gaza, with hundreds of civilians joining to show solidarity with Palestinians.

Israel has enforced a blockade on Gaza, home to about 2.4 million people, for nearly 18 years. The siege was further tightened in March, when Israel closed border crossings and blocked deliveries of food and medicine, pushing the enclave to the brink of famine.

Since October 2023, Israeli bombardments have killed more than 66,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The United Nations and human rights groups warn that Gaza is rapidly becoming uninhabitable as starvation and disease spread.