Pakistan, May 19 -- Pakistan and nine other countries have strongly condemned Israeli assaults on the Global Sumud Flotilla in a joint diplomatic statement. The countries urged the immediate release of detained activists and called for respect for international law and humanitarian protections. The development matters because it highlights rising international concern over civilian maritime missions and regional tensions.

The joint statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, and Spain. The ministers expressed grave concern over repeated Israeli interventions against flotillas operating in international waters. They said such actions target civilian ...