ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of activists and volunteers who were part of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla have been freed from Israeli jails, deported and with the help of Turkey landed at the Istanbul International Airport in three Turkish Airlines airplanes. According to the spokesperson for the Edhi Foundation, among the detained activists and volunteers from the Foundation who arrived in Turkey on their way home included Saad Edhi, son of Faisal Edhi and grandson of late Abdul Sattar Edhi. They had all been arrested by Israeli forces who intercepted the aid convoy in international waters.
Earlier, Israel said on Thursday it had deported all the foreign activists seized by Israeli forces from a Gaza-bound flotilla, following global outcry over their treatment in custody. Israel’s foreign ministry spokesman, Oren Marmorstein, had said that “all foreign activists from the PR flotilla have been deported from Israel.” More than 430 activists from countries around the world were taken in custody in Israel after they were detained at sea while making the latest in a string of attempts to break the blockade of the Palestinian territory.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on social media platform ‘X’ said, “It gives me a great pleasure to announce that as a result of our concerted efforts, Saad Edhi, who was aboard Global Sumud Flotilla, has been released after being illegally detained by Israeli occupation forces. He along with other detained humanitarian workers have safely arrived in Istanbul. Alhamdullilah.”
Dar said, “I once again convey my heartfelt gratitude to the government of Türkiye for ensuring his safe return to Istanbul. The detention of humanitarian workers, and their inhumane treatment by the occupying forces is deeply condemnable and totally unacceptable. Pakistan has been and will continue to provide unequivocal support to our Palestinian brothers and sisters, InshaAllah.”
