Pakistan has strongly condemned the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israel. The flotilla, comprising over 40 civilian vessels and carrying about 500 international activists, was on its way to deliver humanitarian assistance to the besieged people of Gaza.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the unlawful detention of international activists onboard the flotilla constitutes “yet another flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law by Israel, and endangers the lives of innocent civilians.”
The Ministry described the incident as part of Israel’s “ongoing pattern of aggression” and its “illegal blockade of Gaza,” which has caused immense human suffering and deprivation for more than two million Palestinians. It added that the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian relief is a grave breach of Israel’s obligations as the occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Pakistan reiterated its call for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire across all Occupied Palestinian Territories; the lifting of the illegal blockade of Gaza; unfettered access for humanitarian assistance; the immediate release of all humanitarian workers and activists onboard the flotilla; respect for international law, including humanitarian and human rights law; and accountability for Israel’s repeated violations of international law.
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering support and solidarity with the Palestinian people in their just struggle for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination and for the establishment of a viable, independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”
