Former Pakistani Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan has been detained by Israeli forces while leading Pakistan’s delegation on the Global Sumud Flotilla heading to Gaza. The incident took place on Wednesday when Israeli naval units intercepted and boarded the ships.
The Pak–Palestine Forum confirmed the arrest on social media. “Former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan has been arrested by Israeli occupying forces. This is the time to step out of your homes and demand the release of Senator Mushtaq Ahmed and the volunteers from 44 countries with him,” the group posted on X.
The forum further explained that only one vessel, the observer boat, managed to avoid capture. “Only one ship has managed to escape, i.e., the observer boat, whose duty was to collect information and escape. Our second delegate, Syed Uzair Nizami, was sailing on the observer boat and shared the information regarding the interception of Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan’s ship,” it said.
Arrest Comes Amid Shifts in Pakistan’s Policy
Khan’s arrest followed days after Pakistan accepted US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza. There were also discussions in Islamabad about the possibility of joining the Abraham Accords, which involve normalising ties with Israel. Despite this, Pakistan has consistently spoken against Israel’s military actions in Gaza since the war began.
Global Flotilla Faces Israeli Blockade
The Global Sumud Flotilla is a convoy of over 40 civilian boats carrying nearly 500 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists, including Greta Thunberg. They were bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza in defiance of Israel’s warnings.
According to The Guardian, Israeli monitoring began while the flotilla was in international waters north of Egypt on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities later declared the area a “high risk zone,” triggering military action.
By 7:25 p.m. local time, around 20 Israeli naval ships had surrounded the flotilla. They ordered the boats to cut their engines. Live streams showed passengers in life jackets waiting quietly for interception before broadcasts went offline. A message on the flotilla’s Instagram page read: “Our vessels are being illegally intercepted. Cameras are offline, and vessels have been boarded by military personnel. We are actively working to confirm the safety and status of all participants on board.”
Reports of Force Used at Sea
Israeli forces reportedly seized six vessels, but some boats continued moving forward despite naval resistance. Sky Italia aired footage of activists being sprayed with strong water jets from Israeli ships.
Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that he had received assurances from Israel that no violence would be used. “The boarding was planned, we are talking about it … with [the Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar] so that there would be no violent actions on the part of the Tel Aviv armed forces, and this has been assured to me,” Tajani told Italian broadcaster Rai.
He also said Italy’s embassy and consulate would help Italian nationals likely taken to Ashdod before being deported.
Protests Erupt in Italy
As the situation unfolded at sea, protests broke out across Italy. Demonstrations were held in cities including Bari, Bologna, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Pisa, and Rome, with thousands of people condemning Israel’s actions.