Four Scots attempting to get aid into Gaza have been “kidnapped” by Israel, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens has said.
Ross Greer called on First Minister John Swinney to demand the “immediate release” of the Scots, who were part of a flotilla that was intercepted by the Israeli navy.
Activists, including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, were on board around 43 boats as the 500 activists attempted to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Israel’s foreign ministry said a number of vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla had been “safely stopped”, with those onboard now set to be deported.
Speaking during First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood on Thursday, Mr Greer – an MSP for the West Scotland region – said four Scots, including one of his constituents, had been “kidnapped by the Israeli military”.
He told MSPs: “They were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Dozens of ships and hundreds of ordinary people doing what the world’s governments have refused to do, trying to break Israel’s siege of Gaza and deliver life-saving food and medical supplies to starving Palestinians.
“Their boats have been attacked by drones, had chemicals dropped on them, and last night they were attacked by the Israeli navy.
“Not one boat made it to Gaza.”
Mr Greer urged Mr Swinney to “demand the immediate release” of those detained, and called on him to contact Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to intervene.
The First Minister said he has already approached the UK Government over the incident.
“This morning, I asked officials from the Scottish Government to seek an update from the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which was forthcoming, and I am grateful for the information from the FCDO.
“They have informed us they have lobbied the Israeli government to respect law and to protect everyone on board’s safety, and we will keep in close contact with the UK Government regarding the wellbeing of those on the flotilla.
“In relation to the subsequent issues that Mr Greer raises with me about the actions of the Government, I set out in my statement to Parliament on September 3, the actions the Government is taking, and I assure Mr Greer those have been followed up by the Government.”
The flotilla was the largest yet to try to break the blockade, and it came at a time of growing criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, where its offensive has laid waste to wide swathes of territory and killed tens of thousands of people.
Activists said they hoped the sheer number of boats would make it more difficult for Israeli authorities to intercept them all, but Israel’s foreign ministry declared the operation over on Thursday afternoon.
Supporters of the flotilla took to the streets in several major cities late on Wednesday after news of the interception broke – including in Rome, Istanbul, Athens, and Buenos Aires – to condemn the Israeli operation and the ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are very concerned about the situation with the Sumud flotilla, we are in touch with the families of a number of British nationals involved, and we have been in contact with the Israeli authorities to make clear that we expect the situation to be resolved safely, in line with international law and with due respect for the rights of all those on board.
“The aid carried by the flotilla should be turned over to humanitarian organisations on the ground to be delivered safely into Gaza.”
