Pakistan one of the 44 countries represented in flotilla looking to break the Israeli block of Gaza.
Despite almost two years of what has now been called a “genocide” in the Gaza Strip, Israel continues to bombard, hunger and torture more than one million Palestinians in the besieged enclave.
After blocking the help of entering Gaza, Israel established the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in collaboration with the United States, which established food distribution sites, attracting hungry civilians and then allowing them to be fired by the Israeli forces. GHF sites have been criticized by humanitarian organizations such as ‘Campos de Mata’.
Trying to break the blockade and press Israel to put an end to its attack is a fleet of boats with participants from more than 44 countries, including Pakistan. The movement, known as the Sumud Global Flotilla (GSF), will embark on its trip to Gaza in the early hours of Sunday, September 7.
The GSF is composed of four coalitions: Sumud Nausantara, Magreb Sumud Flotilla, Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Global March to Gaza.
A five-member Pakistan delegation led by former Senator Jamat-I-Islami (JI) Mushtaq Ahmed Khan will sail from Tunisia on board the Sumud Nausantara, who also includes participants in Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Maldives and Philippines.
“This is not just a maritime trip, it is not an adventure, but it is an extremely dangerous task,” said former senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan while talking with Dawn.com.
“There are three things that we are trying to achieve through this humanitarian mission to Gaza: end the genocide, establish a humanitarian corridor and finish the block and siege.”
Emphasizing the legality of this mission, Khan explained that after the ships leave tunnecinas, they will navigate to Gaza through international waters.
“When governments have failed, international rights agencies such as the UN have failed, the world order has failed, people have increased and have been responsible for transporting help to Gaza,” he said.
In the training granted to the participants, the former senator said that the volunteers have received instructions on how to behave during the trip, to remain peaceful, what to do in case of emergency or an attack of the Israeli forces and what role each individual on board has.
“Since this is a very dangerous company, we receive two days of training,” he explained.
“They taught us about the outstanding characteristics of a non -violent movement, as well as how to maintain discipline in the boat and what to do in case of emergency, whether interception or attack.”
Dawn.com They told him that before addressing, each member of the flotilla has to record a video of ‘SOS’, which will be loaded on social networks in case of detention by the Israeli forces.
Former Senator Mushtaq also mentioned part of the aid that will carry the delegation, including the “baby formula for babies who starve … food and water for malnourished civilians in Gaza … [and] Medicine for them ”.
The flotilla, which leaves North Africa, is in contact with the ships that departed from Spain earlier this week, according to the senator.
Some of the trip participants are notable rights activists, such as Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Nkosi Zwelivel and Greta Thunberg. Lawyers and journalists are also in the mix of volunteers.
Originally the flotillas were supposed to go to Gaza on September 5; However, climatic conditions forced the ships that sailed from Barcelona to deviate to Menorca.
“Unfortunately, they ran into a storm, so they could be delayed to get to Tunisia. They should arrive in Tunisia before September 5 and need to repost and perform the necessary repairs, but we hope to leave collectively on September 6.”
From the conversation with the former senator, the departure date for ships has changed once again and is now expected to go to Gaza on September 7. The former senator also confirmed this in a voice note sent to Dawn.com.
Meanwhile, a new development has emerged. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has described the global Sumud Flotilla volunteers as “terrorists” and threatened to seize their boats if they go to Gaza.
The coalition, in a statement published in X on Thursday, criticized the Israeli minister and urged UN governments and the world to take note and guarantee the safe step to the besieged enclave.
“The Global Sumud flotilla strongly condemns threats by the Minister of Israeli National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir in an attempt to intimidate our participants and falsely qualify them as” terrorists. “Such threats are not only fundamental and unfair, but also constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and gin conventions.”
When asked about what they will do if Israeli forces intercept and approach their flotilla, the former senator said that participants will remain “non -violent.”
“We are not an army or military force; we are civilians who seek to face and break the siege. In the event that Israeli forces attack, we have been told that we embody the peaceful resistance, we will face oppression and break the blocking peacefully. To put our lives in danger while establishing a humanitarian corridor.”
In previous comments Acts to Dawn.comKhan had highlighted three possible results from the trip to Gaza.
“There are three options. One is that we arrive in Gaza successfully and we can break the blockade and show the world what is happening there,” Khan said. “Another possibility is that they (Israel) can arrest us and deport. The third is that Israel and killed.”
As witnessed in the previous attempts of Freedom Flotilla, the trip to reach the coast of Gaza is far from easy. Those aboard the prostitute and then the Madleen were arrested and deported after Israel intercepted the vessels.
The obstacles were shown for the Pakistan delegation on the way to respond to the so -called GSF humanitarian, since acquiring visas was difficult for Khan delegation.
In publications on social networks, the former senator had appealed to the authorities to facilitate visas for his delegation. Fortunately, the other four members were able to receive their visas on time and arrived in Tunisia on Thursday.
The senator, who clarified that, as a legislator, he has a special passport and does not require a visa, he added that the Pakistani government did not offer help.
“The Pakistani government has not given us any help,” Khan said. “[Malaysian Prime Minister] Anwar Ibrahim is condescending Sumud Nausantara, of which we are part.
“If Anwar Ibrahim can do this, why can’t the Pakistani government?” The former senator asked.
Khan said that he entered an agreement with the government six months ago, under which Islamabad would send a help flotet to the Gaza Strip. The agreement was reached after a sitting of Palestinian solidarity ended strongly at the hands of the authorities.
“[Interior minister] Mohsin Naqvi said this in the registry, “Khan recalled.” One of the conditions to finish my sitting was to send the flotilla.
“I said that if the funds are difficult, then I will pay him from my own pocket. I will sail with my family. But I will give myself the state property. The government did not fulfill a part of the agreement.”
When asked, the former senator said he is paying to board the ship and make the trip.
“People who travel in the Sumud Global Fleet have to pay in advance, including travel expenses and the cost of the boat,” he said. “I am paying for my work here.
“We made a payment for help supplies, but those that are provided by the GSF central body.”
Reiterating the three possible results mentioned above, the former senator who is acting as a coordinator aboard the flotilla said that he and his delegation are prepared, which he can see.
Image of heading: activists from 44 countries, including Pakistan, depart in the Sumud Global Flotilla, a humanitarian expedition to Gaza, from the port of Barcelona, Spain on August 31, 2025. Reuters/Archive
