QUETTA
Pakistan and several other countries on Thursday condemned Israel’s “dastardly attack” on the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) after its forces intercepted the fleet that was attempting to break Israel’s siege of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid.
- Interception Details: Flotilla organizers reported that Israeli forces began intercepting the fleet late last night. So far, Israel has intercepted 39 boats carrying foreign activists, leaving only one vessel still sailing toward the Palestinian enclave.
- Flotilla Composition: The 45-vessel flotilla, which sailed from Spain last month, included prominent activists and politicians such as Greta Thunberg and former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan. The mission was undertaken amid warnings of famine in Gaza by the United Nations.
Israel’s Stance and Action
- Passengers Safe, to be Deported: Hours after global condemnation, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted on X that all on board the flotilla were safe and would be “deported to Europe.”
- Official Statement: Israel’s statement described the attempt as a “Hamas-Sumud provocation” and justified the interception by stating the vessels were attempting to enter an “active combat zone” and “breach the lawful naval blockade.”
Strong Condemnation from Pakistan
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif: PM Sharif “strongly condemned the dastardly attack by Israeli forces” on the flotilla, which was carrying over 450 humanitarian workers from 44 countries. He demanded the immediate release of those illegally apprehended, stating their “crime was to carry aid for the hapless Palestinian people.”
- Support for Pakistani Delegates: The PM commended the participation of former Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) senator Mushtaq Ahmad, highlighting that their initiative reflected Pakistanis’ “peace-loving aspirations, struggle for justice, [and] spirit of helping those in need.”
- Foreign Office (FO): The FO strongly condemned the interception, calling the detention of international activists a “flagrant violation of international law” and a “deliberate obstruction of humanitarian relief.”
- Other Officials: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also issued strong condemnations, with Gilani calling the move an act of “state terrorism and barbaric savagery.”
International Backlash and Diplomacy
Strong-worded condemnations poured in from several other countries, including the UK, Malaysia, Turkiye, Spain, Colombia, Brazil, and South Africa:
- Malaysia: PM Anwar Ibrahim engaged in “direct discussions” with the Qatari, Turkish, and Egyptian leaders to secure the release of eight detained Malaysian activists.
- Colombia: President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of Israel’s entire diplomatic delegation and terminated the country’s free trade agreement with Israel following the detention of two Colombians.
- Turkiye: Announced an investigation into the detention of 24 Turkish citizens on charges including deprivation of liberty.
- South Africa: Called for the release of all activists, including Nelson Mandela’s grandson.
- Spain: Summoned Israel’s top representative in Madrid.
Live feeds confirmed that Israeli soldiers had boarded the ships. A tracker indicated that one of the flotilla’s boats, named Mikeno, had temporarily entered Gaza’s territorial waters and was still sailing. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the interception as a violation of international law.
