ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission comprising more than 40 civilian vessels and around 500 international activists seeking to deliver aid to the people of Gaza.
In a statement, the Foreign Office described the move as the “unlawful detention of international activists”, calling it a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law that endangered the lives of innocent civilians.
The FO stressed that the action was yet another manifestation of Israel’s “pattern of aggression” and its illegal blockade of Gaza, which has inflicted severe human suffering and deprivation on more than two million Palestinians. It said the obstruction of humanitarian relief constitutes a grave breach of Israel’s obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention as an occupying power.
Reiterating its demand for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Pakistan called for the urgent release of all humanitarian workers and activists onboard the flotilla and urged accountability for Israel’s continued violations of international law.
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering support” for the Palestinian cause, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
