ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday demanded the safe return of Pakistani citizens detained by Israeli forces during the interception of the Gaza Aid Flotilla, calling their participation a “dignified humanitarian mission” in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
“This endeavour reflects the Pakistani people’s commitment to peace, their struggle for justice, and their spirit of helping those in need. The Government of Pakistan supports the respect for human life, safe access, and uninterrupted aid delivery,” the premier wrote on X.
PM Sharif said that Pakistan strongly demands the safe return of its citizens and prays for their well-being, dignity, and swift repatriation.
“I commend the dignified participation of Pakistani citizens in the ‘Gaza Freedom Flotilla’. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Mazhar Saeed Shah, Wajahat Ahmad, Dr Osama Riaz, Ismail Khan, Syed Aziz Nizami, and Fahad Ishtiaq, among other Pakistanis, took part in this great humanitarian mission in full accordance with the principles of human compassion,” PM Sharif wrote on his X account.
میں “صمود غزہ فلوٹیلا” میں پاکستان کے شہریوں کی باوقار شرکت کو سراہتا ہوں۔ مشتاق احمد خان صاحب، مظہر سعید شاہ صاحب، وہاج احمد صاحب، ڈاکٹر اسامہ ریاض صاحب، اسماعیل خان صاحب، سید عزیز نظامی صاحب، اور فہد اشتیاق صاحب سمیت دیگر پاکستانیوں نے انسانی ہمدردی کے اصولوں کے عین مطابق اس… https://t.co/n6b22ZDmxj
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 2, 2025
PM Sharif’s statement comes hours after the prime minister condemned the “cowardly attack” by Israeli forces on the ‘Sumud Gaza Flotilla’.
“More than 450 aid workers from 44 countries were aboard this flotilla, who have been illegally detained by Israeli forces. The only ‘crime’ of these selfless workers was that they were carrying aid for the helpless and oppressed Palestinian people,” he said on X.
Flotilla under attack
Israeli naval forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla late Wednesday, detaining dozens of activists and seizing several vessels as the convoy approached Gaza.
Organizers said the flotilla — the largest in years — carried humanitarian supplies, medical aid, and campaigners from over 45 countries. Activists reported signal jamming, communication blackouts, and violent boarding by armed personnel.
Flotilla leaders accused Israeli forces of ramming vessels, deploying water cannons, and “brutally mistreating peaceful detainees from 50 countries.” Around 70 activists were confirmed detained, with Israeli authorities moving them to the southern port of Ashdod.
The raid comes as Gaza reels from one of the most devastating wars in decades. Nearly two years into Israel’s ground and air offensive, more than 66,100 Palestinians — mostly women and children — have been killed since October 2023.
Tens of thousands more are wounded, hospitals lie in ruins, and famine is spreading under Israel’s tightened blockade. The UN has warned repeatedly that Gaza is becoming uninhabitable, with disease and mass displacement worsening the catastrophe.
