Humanitarian volunteer Saad Edhi returned to Karachi on Saturday after being released from Israeli detention following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters earlier this week.
Israeli forces had detained Saad, along with about 100 other activists and aid workers, on Monday after intercepting multiple boats from the humanitarian convoy in the eastern Mediterranean.
After being deported from Israel to Turkiye on Friday alongside other international participants of the flotilla, Saad arrived at Jinnah International Airport, where he received a warm welcome from family members, supporters and well-wishers.
Scenes at the airport showed supporters greeting him with flower petals and garlands while chanting slogans and celebrating his safe return. Several people embraced him upon arrival and expressed happiness over his release.
A day earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Saad — grandson of renowned philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi — had safely reached Istanbul after coordinated diplomatic efforts. Dar also acknowledged the role of the Turkish government in facilitating his safe transfer.
The foreign minister strongly criticized Israel’s handling of humanitarian activists, calling the detention unjustifiable, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm support for the Palestinian cause.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office had earlier condemned Israel’s interception of the aid flotilla in international waters and confirmed that Saad Edhi was among those taken into custody.
Israeli authorities had defended the action, stating that they would not permit any attempt to violate the naval blockade imposed on Gaza.
News of Saad’s detention first surfaced after his father, Faisal Edhi, released a video statement through the Edhi Foundation’s official social media platforms, confirming that Israeli forces had intercepted the aid convoy near Cyprus and detained its participants, including his son. Faisal Edhi had urged Pakistan’s Foreign Office to intervene and ensure Saad’s safe release.
Before his detention, Saad also recorded a video message from aboard the flotilla, identifying himself as a Pakistani citizen and describing the mission as a peaceful humanitarian effort aimed at delivering aid to Gaza.
The Global Sumud Flotilla had departed from Turkiye as part of an international campaign seeking to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, following a similar interception of another aid convoy last month.
