LAHORE: Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Saturday to protest Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla and to condemn what they called threats to Palestinian land and rights.
The Global Sumud Flotilla was seeking to breach an Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, which has been decimated by a two-year Israeli assault. It consisted of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
The flotilla failed to reach Gaza as the boats were intercepted and escorted to Israel this week. But over the course of ten days it emerged as the highest-profile opposition to Israel’s blockade. Buoyed by that publicity, another flotilla of 11 boats has already set sail.
Wednesday’s seizure triggered protests in cities across Europe and as far afield as Argentina, Mexico and Pakistan, and drew criticism from politicians and leaders from Colombia to Malaysia.
“The Global Sumud Flotilla is currently under Israeli custody. Our demand is to release these people that were unarmed and going to help the people,” said Liaquat Bloch, leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan religio-political party, speaking at the Lahore protest.
