Israeli forces raid Global Sumud flotilla carrying Gaza aid, several detained

GAZA: Israeli forces have raided the Global Sumud flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, and several people, including former Pakistani Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, were detained by Israeli forces.

Israeli military boats surrounded the Global Sumud flotilla, consisting of more than 40 boats, and fired water cannons at several boats.

About 500 people, including former Pakistani Senator Mushtaq Ahmed and world-renowned social activist Greta Thunberg, are on board the flotilla carrying aid to the famine-stricken people of Gaza.

According to the flotilla organizers, Israeli soldiers entered the ship and detained all the members on board.

The Pak Palestine Forum claimed on social media that the occupying Israeli forces have detained former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan.

The Pak Palestine Forum has also announced a sit-in at the National Press Club, Islamabad, against the arrest of Mushtaq Ahmed Khan and other people on the Global Sumud flotilla.

According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. The detainees include renowned Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has also released a video.

According to Israeli officials, all the arrested activists will be deported after reaching Israel.

The organizers said that the Israeli navy raided the Global Sumud flotilla’s boat ‘Deir Yassin’ and other boats, after which live broadcasts and all communications with the ship were cut off. The situation of the people on board the boat is also unclear.

The Global Sumud flotilla said that despite the continuous operations of the Israeli navy, 30 boats of the Global Sumud flotilla are still sailing towards Gaza. The boats are only 46 nautical miles (85 kilometers) from Gaza.

Flotilla organizers say the boats are carrying aid and are intended to deliver to the besieged Gazans. International activists say their mission will continue despite Israeli obstacles and pressure.

A video released by the Israeli military shows the flotilla being warned over the radio. The Israeli military told the flotilla that if they wanted to deliver aid to Gaza, they should turn towards the port of Ashdod, from where the aid would be delivered to Gaza.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry also said that Israeli forces had reached the flotilla and were telling the flotilla to change course.

Tiago Avila, a member of the flotilla’s steering committee, said in an audio message sent from his ship that “we are reaching a decisive stage in our mission.”

“We are now approaching their (Israeli) military blockade,” Zeyn al-Abidine Ozkan, a flotilla worker on board, told the Turkish news agency.

Drones continued to fly over the flotilla throughout the night, and at around 5 a.m., the GPS and internet systems of the main flotilla ship, the Alma, were hacked and disconnected. “This was the biggest harassment we have ever faced,” said Turkish worker Matihan Sari, aboard the Alma.

“They tried to intimidate us, but we were not afraid and told them that we would not be afraid.”

According to Matihan Sari, the Israeli ships came within 5 to 10 meters of the Alma.

Amnesty International, a global human rights organization, has called for the protection of the Global Resistance Flotilla.

PM Shehbaz Sharif Statement on Global Sumud flotilla

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the attack by the Israeli army on the Global Samud flotilla.

The Prime Minister said in a message on social media that more than 450 aid workers from 44 countries were on board the flotilla, who were illegally detained by the Israeli army.

The Prime Minister said that the only crime of these people was that they were carrying aid for the helpless and oppressed Palestinian people.

He demanded the immediate release of all these workers and the uninterrupted delivery of aid to the Palestinians.

The Prime Minister said that this aid should reach the deserving people, and the biggest need of the hour is to immediately stop Israeli brutality and ensure the establishment of lasting peace in Palestine.

Meanwhile, Turkey also strongly condemned the Israeli attack on the flotilla, calling the act an act of terrorism.

It should be recalled that the Israeli Navy raided and seized several boats of the Global Samood flotilla, after which the people on board the ships and boats were detained and transferred to an Israeli port.