Saad Edhi detained as Israeli forces intercept Gaza aid flotilla in International waters

ISLAMABAD: Saad Edhi, son of renowned Pakistani social worker Faisal Edhi, has reportedly been detained by Israeli forces after a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for Gaza was intercepted in the eastern Mediterranean, according to his family and flotilla organisers.

The vessel was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a multinational civil society mission carrying food, medicine, and relief supplies for civilians in Gaza. Organisers said Israeli naval units intercepted at least 10 boats and lost contact with a total of 23 vessels as they sailed through international waters.

In a video message released on his social media account before contact was lost, Saad Edhi confirmed he was participating in the mission as a Pakistani citizen and humanitarian volunteer. He described the voyage as a peaceful attempt to break the blockade and deliver urgent aid to Gaza, stressing that the mission was non-violent in nature.

His father, Faisal Edhi, said the flotilla was intercepted near Cyprus and claimed that participants, including his son, had been detained by Israeli forces. He urged Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene immediately and clarify the whereabouts of those arrested.

He maintained that the interception took place in international waters and therefore constituted an unlawful action. He also appealed to the United Nations and the broader international community to respond to what he called an “illegal and inhumane act”.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry, however, said it would not allow any breach of what it described as a lawful naval blockade on Gaza. It warned participants to turn back, calling the flotilla an unauthorised provocation.

The Israel Defense Forces reportedly boarded several vessels during the operation, while live communications from the flotilla indicated the approach of military ships before contact was lost.

Organisers said around 426 activists from 39 countries were taking part in the mission, including approximately two dozen Turkish nationals. They added that the flotilla had previously faced similar interceptions, including earlier attempts this year that ended with detentions and diversion of aid ships to Israeli-controlled ports.

The latest interception has once again drawn attention to ongoing efforts by civil society groups to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza, where international aid agencies continue to report shortages of essential supplies despite a ceasefire agreement reached earlier.

Israel has repeatedly denied restricting humanitarian access, claiming that large volumes of aid and medical supplies have entered Gaza in recent months. However, aid organisations and several governments continue to argue that deliveries remain insufficient for the territory’s population of over two million people, many of whom have been displaced by ongoing conflict.

As of now, the status of Saad Edhi and other detained participants remains unclear, with families calling for urgent diplomatic intervention and confirmation of their whereabouts.