Former Pakistani senator freed after Israeli detention over Gaza aid flotilla

Former Pakistani Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who was detained by Israeli forces during the interception of a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza, has been released and is now safely with officials from Pakistan’s Embassy in Amman, Jordan, the government said on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the news on X, formerly Twitter, saying Mushtaq was “in good health and high spirits.”

“The Embassy stands ready to facilitate his return to Pakistan, in accordance with his wishes and convenience,” Dar said, expressing gratitude to “friendly countries who actively engaged and assisted” in securing his release.

The development follows diplomatic efforts by Islamabad to ensure the safety and repatriation of Pakistani citizens detained by Israel after the flotilla was stopped in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, was intercepted by Israeli naval forces about 70 nautical miles off Gaza’s coast early Thursday morning, according to the Pakistan-Palestine Forum, a group that supported Pakistan’s participation in the mission.

The flotilla carried more than 450 activists and aid workers from 44 countries who aimed to deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

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Israeli authorities said the flotilla was “safely stopped” because it approached an “active combat zone” and violated what Israel described as a “lawful naval blockade” around Gaza.

Organizers, however, called the operation illegal, alleging that Israeli forces rammed some of the vessels, used water cannons, and jammed distress signals and livestreams during the raid.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Mushtaq was in Israeli custody.

Following the flotilla’s interception, the Pakistan-Palestine Forum announced demonstrations in major cities, including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan, demanding the immediate release of those detained.

Islamabad had earlier condemned Israel’s naval raid, calling it a violation of international law and the right to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians trapped in Gaza.

The interception was the third such incident in recent months. Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza for nearly two decades, tightening restrictions since the latest conflict erupted in 2023.

The United Nations said in August that famine-like conditions persist in Gaza and accused Israel of “systematic obstruction” of humanitarian aid.