Web Desk: Israeli forces have detained Saad Edhi, son of prominent Pakistani philanthropist Faisal Edhi, during a Gaza-bound aid mission organised by an international flotilla.
The detention took place after Israeli authorities intercepted a maritime convoy carrying humanitarian assistance toward the Palestinian enclave, organisers said. The mission involved more than 500 activists and aid workers from multiple countries participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which had departed from Marmaris, Türkiye.
Organisers said the flotilla aimed to deliver relief supplies to civilians in Gaza amid ongoing restrictions and a worsening humanitarian situation.
They added that Israeli forces boarded several vessels during the operation and detained multiple participants, including Saad Edhi, who was part of the Pakistan-linked humanitarian delegation.
Before his detention, Saad Edhi released a video message during which he said the vessels were being approached by Israeli forces, according to footage circulated by the organizers.
The flotilla’s interception comes amid continued international debate over access to humanitarian aid for Gaza and Israel’s maritime blockade of the territory.
This is not the first such incident in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Israeli forces intercepted a separate Global Sumud Flotilla carrying activists and supplies toward Gaza, prompting diplomatic criticism from several countries, including Pakistan.
A joint statement from 11 countries at the time described the interceptions and detentions in international waters as violations of international law and humanitarian principles.
Among those previously detained was former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who was later released and transferred to Türkiye, according to officials.
Following the latest detentions, the Palestine Action Coalition of Pakistan condemned the interception, calling it an attack on humanitarian efforts and urging international attention.
The group said the mission represented a collective effort to deliver aid to Gaza and argued that stopping individual participants would not halt broader support for Palestinians.
Meanwhile, organisers called for the immediate release of those detained and urged international bodies to intervene.
Israeli authorities have not yet issued an official response regarding the latest flotilla interceptions or the status of those detained.
The situation is likely to add further strain to already heightened tensions surrounding humanitarian access to Gaza and ongoing maritime enforcement operations in the region.
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