Israeli forces have arrested former Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and members of a Pakistani delegation aboard the Global Samood flotilla, which was en route to deliver humanitarian aid and medicines to Gaza, sources said.

Mushtaq Ahmad Khan had earlier warned of a possible Israeli attack on the flotilla. In a video posted on the social media platform X, he said Israeli naval vessels were visible in the distance and that there was a risk of action overnight. He described taking precautionary measures — including donning life jackets — and said the group was prepared to face any danger.

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He also reported that Israeli forces had jammed his mobile phone, cutting off his communications; in a dramatic gesture, he said he threw his phone into the sea to emphasize that interference would not stop their mission. “They can block my phone, but they cannot stop our journey to Gaza,” he said in the video. He added that whether they faced capture or worse, they would continue toward Gaza.

Organisers of the Global Samood flotilla say the mission’s aim was to deliver critical supplies — including medicines and other relief items — to civilians in Gaza. Details on the number of detained Pakistanis and their current whereabouts were not immediately available.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region and follows repeated attempts by international activists to send humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea. Further developments are awaited as diplomatic channels and international organisations seek information and possible steps for the release of those detained.