Metro53 - ISTANBUL: Israeli forces have reportedly intercepted a humanitarian aid mission, Global Sumud Flotilla, and detained several participants, including Pakistani politician Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, according to initial reports on Thursday.
The flotilla, organised as part of efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance and draw attention to the situation in Gaza, was allegedly stopped by Israeli authorities in international waters. Activists claimed that multiple vessels were boarded and their occupants taken into custody.
Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, a former senator and patron of the Pakistan-Palestine Forum, was said to be among those detained during the operation. There has been no immediate official confirmation from Israeli authorities regarding the arrests.
Following the reports, activists associated with the Gaza march initiative have called for nationwide protests in Pakistan, demanding the immediate release of the detained individuals. They have also urged the government to take swift diplomatic action by engaging the Foreign Office and approaching Greek and European embassies to ensure the safety of those in custody.
The activists further called on Islamabad to formally condemn what they described as an unlawful act and to raise the issue at international forums in coordination with allied countries. They emphasised the need to increase pressure on Israel to ease restrictions on Gaza and allow humanitarian access.
Public reaction has also begun to build, with calls for peaceful demonstrations against what protesters termed as aggression. Meanwhile, no official statement has yet been issued by the Pakistani government regarding the development.
