The Palestine Action Coalition of Pakistan announced on Thursday that former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan has been detained by Israeli forces while participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
Khan, who was leading a five-member Pakistani delegation, had joined international activists, aid workers, and political representatives on the flotilla. The initiative sought to deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinians trapped under Israel’s 17-year-long blockade.
Israeli Interception of Flotilla
Organisers confirmed that Israeli forces intercepted 39 out of 45 boats that formed part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Only one vessel remains en route to Gaza. The flotilla, which set sail from Spain last month, carried hundreds of international activists and humanitarian aid workers committed to challenging Israel’s restrictions on Gaza.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Condemns Israeli Action
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the Israeli attack on the flotilla, describing it as a “dastardly” act against a purely humanitarian mission.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the prime minister wrote:
“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. Their crime was to carry aid for the hapless Palestinian people.”
Sharif stressed that humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach Gaza, urging the international community to take immediate notice of what he called a blatant act of barbarity. He reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people and called for an end to Israel’s blockade.
Pakistan’s Role in Global Solidarity
The detention of Mushtaq Ahmad Khan underscores Pakistan’s active participation in international efforts to highlight the plight of Palestinians. The presence of a Pakistani delegation on the flotilla demonstrates the country’s ongoing commitment to Palestinian solidarity and its opposition to Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian access.
As international condemnation grows, the fate of those detained, including the Pakistani representatives, remains uncertain. Human rights groups have urged Israel to immediately release the activists and allow aid shipments to reach Gaza, where the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.