Pakistan, May 19 -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters and detained dozens of international activists, among them a Pakistani named Saad Edhi, his father said on Monday.

Edhi, the grandson of Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi who founded the Edhi Foundation charity organization, joined the latest Global Sumud Flotilla last week. The flotilla aims to break Israel's naval blockade and bring humanitarian supplies to besieged Palestinians in the war-torn area.

Saad, as well as dozens of other international activists on the flotilla into their custody, his father Faisal Edhi told Arab News.

"The IDF intercepted them near Cyprus in international waters, in blatant viola...