Humanitarian worker Saad Edhi, who was illegally detained by Israeli forces during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters earlier this week, arrived in Karachi on Saturday.

Saad was detained by Israeli forces on Monday along with around 100 other members of the humanitarian flotilla, after at least 10 boats were intercepted in the eastern Mediterranean.

He landed at Jinnah International Airport today after being deported from Israel to Turkiye on Friday, along with other foreign activists on board the Sumud Flotilla.

A large number of supporters and family members gathered at the airport to welcome him home. Video footage showed people showering him with flower petals and placing floral garlands around his neck as chants and cheers filled the arrival area.

Many supporters were seen embracing him and expressing relief at his safe return.

A day earlier, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Saad — grandson of late philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi — had arrived safely in Istanbul along with other activists following what he described as “concerted efforts” by the authorities.

Dar also thanked the Turkish government for facilitating Saad’s return and ensuring his safe passage to Istanbul. He described Israel’s treatment of humanitarian workers as “deeply condemnable and totally unacceptable” and reiterated Pakistan’s “unequivocal support” for the Palestinian people.

On Thursday, the Foreign Office (FO) condemned Israel’s unlawful interception of the flotilla in international waters. In a statement, the FO confirmed that those detained included humanitarian activist Saad Edhi.

Earlier on Monday, Israel’s foreign ministry posted on X ​that it “will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza”.

Reports of Saad’s detention by Israeli forces emerged on Monday after his father, Faisal Edhi, post a video on Edhi’s official Facebook handle. In the video, Faisal said that the “the Gaza aid flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces near Cyprus and its members have been arrested, including Saad Edhi”.

Faisal had also appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take action following his son’s detention by Israeli forces.

Later, Saad also issued a video statement from the flotilla.

“I am Saad Edhi, a Pakistani citizen. If you are watching this video, it means that I have been intercepted or am being intercepted,” he said. He had described it as a “non-violent humanitarian aid mission” for Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla had set sail from Turkiye last week in the latest attempt by activists to breach Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian enclave, after Israeli forces intercepted a previous convoy last month.

Earlier this week, Pakistan and nine other countries issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s interception of the flotilla. The joint statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, and Spain.

Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.

Due to Gaza’s invasion by Israel, the territory has suffered severe shortages of food, medicine and other essential supplies, with Israel at times halting aid deliveries entirely.