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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday warned of accountability in case Israel attacked Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) that has been en route to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, the Pakistani foreign office said on Tuesday.

The flotilla set sail from Tunisia on Sunday, with organizers and participants saying they were determined to break Israel’s siege of Gaza and deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid.

The departure of the convoy, which is carrying activists from more than 40 countries aboard, from the port city of Bizerte was delayed after two flotilla vessels came under attack last week.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Pakistani foreign office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan reiterated that the flotilla has informed about its objectives of delivering aid to Gaza and raising awareness about the needs of Palestinian people.

"We therefore call on everyone to refrain from any unlawful or violent act against the Flotilla, to respect international law and international humanitarian law," Khan told reporters in Islamabad. "We recall that any violation of international law and human rights of the participants in the Flotilla, including attack against vessels in international waters or illegal detention, will lead to accountability."

The fleet of more than 100 vessels, which will converge in the Mediterranean, brings together four regional alliances: Sumud Nusantara from Asia, Sumud Maghrib from Africa, the Global March to Gaza from the Middle East and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition from Europe.

Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan last month arrived in Tunisia, while Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon left Barcelona, vowing to try to “break the illegal siege of Gaza.”

Earlier this week, Pakistan's foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, along with his counterparts from Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Ireland, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain and Turkey, expressed concerns about the security of GSF, in which citizens of these countries are participating.

The development takes place as Israel intensifies its military offensive in Gaza, which has killed nearly 65,000 Palestinians since Oct. 2023, and keeps limiting the deliveries of food and basic supplies there. The move has earned the ire of several countries around the world, including Pakistan, who have demanded Israel lift the blockade and allow medicines and food to reach the people.

Food experts warned in August that Gaza was in famine and that half a million people across the territory were facing catastrophic levels of hunger.

DUBAI: India and Pakistan clash again in the Asia Cup on Sunday, renewing one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries a week after their last match was overshadowed by a handshake row.

India won the September 14 group match by seven wickets in Dubai and afterwards refused to shake hands with their opponents, angering Pakistan.

It was the first meeting between the neighbors since a four-day cross-border conflict in May left more than 70 people dead.

The Pakistan Cricket Board lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council alleging that match referee Andy Pycroft had told skipper Salman Agha not to approach Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav for a handshake at the toss.

The PCB demanded Pycroft be removed from their matches and threatened to withdraw from the eight-team Twenty20 competition.

Their last group game was held up for an hour before the PCB said Pycroft had apologized and the match, with the Zimbabwean in charge, eventually went ahead.

Pakistan beat hosts the United Arab Emirates to qualify for the next stage, the Super Fours, and set up another meeting with India in Dubai.

Indian media has reported that the team plans to stick to its no-handshake policy for Sunday’s clash.

India spinner Kuldeep Yadav sought to defuse the controversy.

“When you step onto the field it’s just a batter in front of you. I have always approached it this way against Pakistan,” he said ahead of India’s last group game, against Oman on Friday.

Agha also stuck to sport.

“If we play good cricket like we have played in the last few months I think we’ll be good against any side,” the Pakistan captain told reporters.

SIMMERING TENSIONS

Because of fraught political ties, nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan only meet at neutral venues during multi-team tournaments.

Tensions soared ahead of the Asia Cup after the two countries engaged in their worst conflict since 1999.

The hostilities in May left more than 70 people dead in missile, drone and artillery exchanges, before a ceasefire.

The conflict was triggered by an April attack on civilians in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing, a charge Islamabad denies.

India resisted calls to boycott the first Pakistan match.

A potential third India-Pakistan showdown looms if both sides qualify for the final on September 28 in Dubai.

India lifted the Asia Cup in its last, 50-over edition and are favorites to retain the crown.

India and Pakistan advanced to the next stage from Group A while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh qualified from Group B.

Sri Lanka face Bangladesh on Saturday in the first Super Fours fixture.

Sri Lanka, unbeaten so far, look dangerous while Bangladesh carry the underdog tag under skipper Litton Das.

Along with regional bragging rights, the Asia Cup serves as build-up toward the T20 World Cup in February-March in India and Sri Lanka.