The ministers of foreign affairs of Pakistan, Türkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives and Spain had condemned in the strongest terms the renewed Israeli assaults against the Global Sumud Flotilla, a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at drawing international attention to the catastrophic humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people.
The ministers recall with grave concern the Israeli interventions against previous flotillas in international waters and condemn the continuation of hostile acts targeting civilian vessels and humanitarian activists. “Such assaults, including attacks against the vessels and the arbitrary detention of activists, constitute blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law,” said a statement issued on Tuesday by the office of the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministers have expressed serious concern regarding the safety and security of the civilian participants of the flotilla and call for the immediate release of all detained activists, as well as for full respect for their rights and dignity.
They have further stressed that repeated attacks against peaceful humanitarian initiatives reflect the continued disregard for international law and freedom of navigation. “They call on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities, ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian missions, and take concrete steps to end impunity and ensure accountability for these violations.”
Also on Tuesday, rights, labour and student organisations condemned the arrest and alleged torture of flotilla volunteers, including Saad Edhi, by Israeli forces and demanded their immediate release.
Activists from progressive youth organisation Alternate, in collaboration with the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) and Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF), organised a protest demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club against the arrest and alleged torture of Saad, grandson of Abdul Sattar Edhi, by Israeli security forces.
Alongside representatives of political, social and human rights organisations, Saad Edhi’s mother, Saba Faisal Edhi, and father, Faisal Edhi, also participated in the demonstration. Addressing the participants, Faisal said Saad was part of the humanitarian aid convoy Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising more than 500 participants from different countries carrying relief supplies from the people of Pakistan for Palestinians in Gaza.
He said the peaceful international convoy, consisting of 45 boats, departed from Marmaris for Gaza on May 14, 2026, and was detained by Israeli forces near Cyprus on May 18. He added that the whereabouts of the detainees were still unknown. NTUF leader Nasir Mehmood recalled that the convoy had set sail on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, during which more than 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from over 530 villages following the occupation of their lands in May 1948.
He said that around 15,000 Palestinians were killed during the tragedy and alleged that atrocities against Palestinians by Israel were continuing. Nasir said Saad, along with volunteers from various countries participating in the international convoy, was arrested by Israeli security forces in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, approximately 200 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza. During detention, he was reportedly subjected to physical abuse and torture.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan vice president Qazi Khizar termed Saad’s arrest a blatant violation of international law. Zehra Khan of HBWWF said Saad, grandson of the renowned humanitarian Edhi, was internationally recognised for his humanitarian work.
