Israeli forces board and detain Gaza-bound flotilla carrying Scots

Israeli forces have intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying four Scots.

Activists said at least 20 of the 43 boats were stopped by the Israeli navy as they approached the besieged Palestinian territory on Wednesday.

Four Scots were on board the vessels detained in the Mediterranean Sea. The UK Foreign Office says it is “extremely concerned” and it is in contact with Israeli authorities to ensure the incident is “resolved safely” and “in line with International Law”.

Greta Thunberg, right, as she is removed after the Israeli navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid towards Gaza on Wednesday. Israeli Foreign Ministry

Former First Minister Humza Yousaf took to X to confirm that Glasgow man Sid Khan was one of the volunteers aboard the flotilla.

Yvonne Ridley, Jim Hickey and Margaret Pancetta were also on the boats stopped by the Israeli navy.

Yousaf has called on the UK Government to demand that “no harm comes to them”.

Several boats continued sailing 12 hours after the military intervened. The Global Sumud Flotilla was composed of 500 activists carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The Sirius, Alma and Adara boats were intercepted some 70 nautical miles (80 miles) from the coast of Gaza, according to organisers who shared live positions of the flotilla.

Israeli authorities said the activists, including Greta Thunberg, were safe and being transferred to Israel.

The UK Foreign Office criticised the Israeli Government’s “unacceptable restrictions” which had resulted in a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “No one would be trying to deliver aid directly via this route if the Israeli government had not placed completely unacceptable restrictions on the flow of aid, creating a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

“It is the responsibility of the Israeli government to immediately and unconditionally lift restrictions on aid so that the UN and NGOs can deliver food, medicine and other essentials to civilians in desperate need.

“That requires the opening of land routes so that aid can be delivered into Gaza through safe and established channels, at the pace and volume that is required to meet the scale of this humanitarian crisis.”

The UK Government is in contact with the families of the British people affected.