Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Sunday confirmed that it was coordinating with international partners for the repatriation of citizens detained by Israeli forces following the interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. The ministry said former senator Mushtaq Ahmad was among those in custody and would be repatriated after deportation orders are issued.
In a statement, the ministry said it had verified through a European intermediary that Mushtaq Ahmad was safe and in good health. It added that the former senator would be presented before an Israeli court, after which his return to Pakistan would be facilitated on a fast-track basis.
Ahmad, who led a five-member Pakistani delegation, was detained on October 2 along with hundreds of international activists participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla. The flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was intercepted 42.5 nautical miles from the territory, and more than 450 activists were taken into custody by Israeli forces.
The Foreign Office said it had previously coordinated the safe return of Pakistani nationals who disembarked earlier and expressed gratitude to countries that had assisted in the process. It reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all its citizens abroad and anticipated the completion of repatriation efforts in the coming days.
In a related development, Turkish authorities said 137 activists deported from Israel had arrived in Istanbul, including nationals from the United States, the UAE, Algeria, Morocco, Malaysia, and other countries. Some activists alleged mistreatment during detention, saying detainees were denied food, water, and medical supplies.
Two released activists told Reuters that Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg was also mistreated, alleging she was shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 26 Italians had returned home while another 15 remained in Israeli custody and would be expelled soon.
According to Israeli legal aid group Adalah, several flotilla participants were denied access to lawyers and forced to kneel with their hands tied for hours after chanting “Free Palestine.” Negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing Gaza conflict are expected to resume in Cairo later today.
