ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday strongly condemned what he described as a “dastardly attack” by Israeli forces on the Gaza-bound Sumud flotilla, which was carrying humanitarian aid workers from around the world.
In a statement posted on X, the prime minister denounced the Israeli operation against the convoy of 40 vessels transporting more than 450 volunteers from 44 countries. He said the flotilla’s only mission was to deliver food and medical supplies to Palestinians trapped under Israel’s blockade.
“Their only crime was carrying aid for the oppressed people of Palestine,” Sharif wrote, urging an immediate end to what he called Israel’s “barbarity.”
He added that peace could only be achieved if humanitarian assistance was allowed to reach civilians in Gaza. “Peace must be given a chance and aid must reach those in need,” he said.
The Sumud flotilla, organized by international activists, has become one of the most high-profile efforts to challenge Israel’s restrictions on Gaza. Its interception has drawn sharp criticism from several countries and renewed calls for global intervention to ensure the delivery of life-saving supplies to Palestinians.
