Pakistan continues to coordinate with allied nations to safeguard its nationals, reaffirming its commitment to their swift and safe return, the Foreign Office said Thursday, after Israel intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF).
Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said Islamabad “unequivocally condemned” the interception, calling the flotilla a “vital humanitarian mission embodying global solidarity and moral resolve.”
“The Israeli actions constitute a grave violation of international law,” he added.
Khan noted that on September 16, Pakistan had joined 15 other countries in issuing a joint statement expressing concern for the flotilla’s security, stressing “the safety and well-being of Pakistani citizens aboard the flotilla are of paramount importance.”
“As Pakistan does not recognize Israel, we are working closely with international partners in the region to secure their immediate release and ensure their safety,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned what he described as a “dastardly attack” on the flotilla, which carried more than 450 humanitarian workers from 44 countries, including Pakistanis.
“We hope and pray for the safety of all those illegally apprehended by Israeli forces and call for their immediate release,” Sharif said. “Their crime was to carry aid for the hapless Palestinian people.”
