FO condemns mistreatment of flotilla activists, calls for release of detainees including Pakistani citizen

Says it remains in contact with Pakistani diplomatic missions in the region regarding the matter

Pakistan on Thursday condemned the “unlawful interception” of the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israeli forces in international waters and called for the immediate release of all detained humanitarian activists, including a Pakistani humanitarian activist Saad Edhi.

A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Pakistan condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the interception of the flotilla by Israeli occupying forces as well as the “arbitrary detention and reported mistreatment of humanitarian workers onboard.”

It said that those detained reportedly included Pakistani humanitarian activist Saad Edhi, the grandson of Abdul Sattar Edhi, the renowned philanthropist.

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Pakistan condemns illegal detention and mistreatment ofhumanitarian activists onboard Global Sumud Flotilla

🔗⬇️https://t.co/iQ36a0IOHH pic.twitter.com/VUtAS6kPYU

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 21, 2026

“Pakistan demands the immediate release of all illegally detained activists,” the statement said. “It also calls on the international community to ensure safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of those detained.”

The FO said it remained in contact with Pakistani diplomatic missions in the region regarding the matter and to ensure the safe return of any detained Pakistani nationals.

Earlier in the week, the organisers said that Israeli forces had intercepted 39 of their boats in the eastern Mediterranean, while the remaining vessels were continuing to sail towards the enclave.

Ships from the Global Sumud Flotilla had set sail for a third time ​on Thursday from southern Turkiye, after earlier attempts to deliver aid to Gaza were intercepted by Israel in international waters.

Read: Pakistan, nine countries condemn Israeli attack on Gaza-bound flotilla

There were 426 people taking part in the 54-vessel flotilla from 39 countries, with the Global Sumud Flotilla naming 44 Turks among those on the intercepted vessel, some 250 nautical miles (463 km) from Gaza.

The Israeli military arrested aid workers who were part of the flotilla carrying relief supplies for the people of Gaza. Those arrested belong to different countries. Among the detained is Saad Edhi, who was representing Pakistan and heading toward Gaza with his team.

Edhi Foundation Chairman Faisal Edhi alleged that Israeli forces had detained his son, Saad, along with other volunteers. 

In a message on Meta, Faisal said that around 1pm Pakistan Standard Time, Israeli forces intervened in the Gaza aid flotilla near Cyprus in international waters and arrested his son along with other volunteers.

“They were in international waters, and Israeli forces have no right to arrest them. We don't know where they have taken them,” he said.

Faisal had appealed to the federal government and the Foreign Office to take legal action against the Israeli forces for detaining a Pakistani citizen.

A day earlier, Pakistan joined nine other nations in a joint condemnation of Israel's interception of the Gaza-bound flotilla. The foreign ministers of Turkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, the Maldives, and Spain co-signed the declaration, which described the Global Sumud Flotilla as a peaceful civilian humanitarian mission seeking to highlight the dire conditions facing Palestinians and called Israel's assault on it wholly unacceptable.

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Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Türkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, and Spain Regarding the Israeli Assaults on the Global Sumud Flotilla, 18th May 2026 pic.twitter.com/TS99F2w31n

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 19, 2026

Read More: Israel says 430 Gaza flotilla activists being transferred to Israel

Human Rights Council of Pakistan also strongly condemned the attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla and the arrest and torture of human rights activists, including Saad Edhi, describing the action as a blatant violation of human rights, humanitarian assistance, and freedom of expression.

Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007. During Israel's intensified attack on Gaza since October 2023, the territory has suffered severe shortages of food, medicine, and other essential supplies, with Israel at times halting aid deliveries entirely.

A previous flotilla attempt was intercepted last month in international waters off Greece, with most activists expelled to Europe.