ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday announced the release of activist Saad Edhi from Israeli custody after a raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
Saad Edhi, grandson of the late Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi and a member of the Edhi Foundation, was among hundreds of activists detained after Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters late last week.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that, as a result of our concerted efforts, Mr. Saad Edhi, who was aboard the 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. Alhamdulillah,” Ishaq Dar said in a post on X.
It gives me a great pleasure to announce that as a result of our concerted efforts, Mr. 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…
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) May 21, 2026
He expressed gratitude to the government of Turkiye 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,” he noted.
He vowed to continue to provide unequivocal support to the Palestinian nations.
Israel deports foreign activists
Earlier, Israel said it had deported all foreign activists detained from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, after international condemnation over their mistreatment in custody.
The foreign ministry said all detainees had been deported from the country following their interception at sea earlier this week.
“Israel will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said.
The deportations came after more than 430 activists were detained when Israeli naval forces intercepted vessels attempting to reach Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla and Freedom Flotilla Coalition missions.
Israeli authorities said the activists were held at Ktziot prison in southern Israel before being transferred for deportation via Ramon Airport.
Pakistan condemned detention and mistreatment
Pakistan had strongly 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 Pakistani aid worker Saad Edhi.
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Pakistan condemns illegal detention and mistreatment ofhumanitarian activists onboard Global Sumud Flotilla
🔗⬇️https://t.co/wHi8ltaUmD… pic.twitter.com/SxtkYjRE0U
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 21, 2026
In an official statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad denounced the detention and mistreatment of individuals onboard the vessel, saying the incident represented a violation of international norms and humanitarian principles.
The Foreign Office said Pakistan viewed the operation carried out against the flotilla with serious concern, particularly reports suggesting that humanitarian workers and activists aboard the ship had been subjected to arbitrary detention and ill-treatment.
