No update on Pakistan’s Mushtaq Ahmed as Israel deports more abducted GSF activists

Pakistan’s ex-senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, who was abducted by Israeli occupation forces from the Global Sumud Flotilla, remains in illegal detention in Israel. Meanwhile, dozens of other activists have been deported to Turkiye, Italy, and Spain.

According to reports, more than 130 activists were deported to Istanbul on October 4, while several others were flown to Madrid on Sunday. Israel had detained around 450 participants of the flotilla, which had set sail for Gaza in an effort to break the ongoing Israeli blockade.

Hundreds of activists reportedly continue to be held in Israeli custody. Those who have been released described the experience as “degrading,” saying they were denied food, water, and medication and were subjected to mocking treatment by prison authorities.

The advocacy group Pakistan-Palestine Forum raised concerns over the lack of information available about the well-being of an ex-senator in Israeli detention, with several activists reporting about assault and torture by the occupation forces.

Alongside Mushtaq Ahmed, Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, are also in Israel’s custody.

The Foreign Office confirmed that Mushtaq Ahmed was presented in an Israeli court along with other detainees. The ministry further stated that the government is engaging diplomatic channels with European countries to secure his release.

Greta Thunberg is expected to be released today. Although the Swedish embassy was granted consular access to her, Thunberg reportedly complained of being kept in a bug-infested cell and denied food and water.

Disturbing accounts have also surfaced alleging that she was forced to kiss the Israeli flag.

“They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” Turkish activist Ersin Çelik told Anadolu Agency in an interview.

Meanwhile, South Africa has demanded the immediate release of Mandla Mandela, who was also part of the flotilla mission.