Jamaat-e-Islami staged a protest march in Dhaka on Friday condemning Israel’s seizure of the humanitarian flotilla “Global Sumud” bound for war-ravaged Gaza, and the arrest of rights activists on board.
The protest began after noon from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, following a rally at the same spot. Thousands of activists from Jamaat’s central and city units joined the demonstration.
Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan and Dhaka city north unit Ameer Muhammad Selim Uddin attended the rally. They denounced Israel’s actions and demanded the immediate opening of a secure route for humanitarian supplies to reach Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel’s navy also intercepted the flotilla’s final ship, the Marinette, at 7:07pm international time on Friday. The vessel was stopped 51.4 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza in international waters of the Mediterranean.
A day earlier, Israel had already detained 41 boats from international waters en route to Gaza, along with another vessel from Palestinian territorial waters, escorting them to the port of Ashdod.
The Global Sumud Flotilla had set sail from Barcelona on 31 August, gradually expanding into a civilian convoy of more than 40 vessels carrying nearly 500 people from 44 countries – including human rights defenders, lawyers, doctors, journalists and elected officials – all aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea.
As the flotilla approached Gaza, Israeli forces detained nearly all the vessels and their passengers, diverting them to Ashdod.
The seizure has sparked demonstrations across several countries, though reports in international media say the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown little concern for the global outcry.
Jamaat’s protest in Dhaka on Friday was part of this wave of international reaction.
