Ex-senator Mushtaq Ahmed transferred to Israel’s notorious Ketziot Prison

Ex-senator Mushtaq Ahmed has been shifted to Israel’s notorious Ketziot prison in the Negev desert after being arrested by the occupation army. He was taken into custody from the first batch of the Global Sumud Flotilla when it was only 70 nautical miles from Gaza, attempting to break the Israeli siege.

According to Israeli media, more than 470 people were abducted, brought first to the port of Ashdod, and later transferred to Ketziot prison. Israeli forces intercepted all boats of the flotilla over a span of 38 hours, although one vessel managed to enter Gaza’s territorial waters before being stopped.

Adalah, a human rights organisation and legal center in Israel, has taken up the cases of the flotilla activists, while four Italian citizens have already been deported.

Meanwhile, the Israeli ministry claimed the detainees were “healthy and safe.” However, videos circulating online showed notorious security minister Ben Gvir humiliating the activists and labeling them as terrorists.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the government had involved an influential European country, which is currently engaging with Israel to press for the immediate release of ex-senator Mushtaq Ahmed.

Dar confirmed that Mushtaq Ahmed Khan had been abducted by Israeli forces along with other activists when the first batch of the Global Sumud Flotilla approached the Gaza coast.

He clarified, however, that so far the government can only confirm the abduction of Mushtaq Ahmed, while other Pakistani activists aboard the flotilla are not believed to have been taken into custody by the occupation forces.