Pakistan 'working' with partners to secure release of citizens detained by Israel after attack on Gaza flotilla

Pakistan said on Thursday that it is working closely with international partners in the region to secure the release of its citizens detained by Israel following the attack on the Gaza-bound flotilla.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that, while Pakistan does not recognize Israel, Islamabad is coordinating with partners to ensure the immediate release and safety of its citizens.

"The safety and well-being of Pakistani citizens aboard the flotilla are of paramount importance," the statement said.

Former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan led the Pakistani team on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, and his family said they had lost contact with him since Wednesday night.

On Sept. 16, Pakistan, along with 15 other nations, issued a joint statement expressing concern over the security of the flotilla.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan and several Asian nations condemned Israel’s attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla and demanded the immediate release of all detainees.

Israeli naval forces attacked the flotilla as it approached Gaza’s coast late Wednesday and detained at least 443 activists on board, organizers said.

The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza (ICBSG) confirmed that 22 ships have been attacked and seized by Israeli forces, and 19 are believed to have been attacked, but it has not yet documented them.

Of the four vessels still remaining, two support ships turned back, while the vessel Marinet continued sailing toward Gaza but was still far away after a late arrival due to technical malfunctions, it added.

The flotilla, loaded mainly with humanitarian aid and medical supplies, set sail at the end of August. It was the first time in years that around 50 ships sailed together toward Gaza, carrying hundreds of civilian supporters.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza, home to nearly 2.4 million, for nearly 18 years, and further tightened the siege in March when it closed border crossings and blocked food and medicine deliveries, pushing the enclave into famine.

Since October 2023, Israeli bombardment has killed more than 66,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The UN and rights groups have repeatedly warned that the enclave is being rendered uninhabitable, with starvation and disease spreading rapidly.