THE families of the Scottish activists detained by Israel while taking part in a historic flotilla to Gaza have called for the immediate release of their loved ones.
The Global Sumud Flotilla was attempting to sail to Gaza to deliver much-needed aid and break Israel's blockade on the enclave.
Around 500 activists from 44 different countries, including Scotland, took part in the flotilla, making it the largest humanitarian mission of its kind.
On Wednesday night, Israel began intercepting the flotilla as it was approaching Gaza , seizing the boats and detaining the activists on board.
There were four Scottish activists taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla
- Jim Hickey, 52, removals driver (Seulle)
- Sid Khan, 48, Scots Asians for Independence vice chair (Adara)
- Margaret Pacetta, 70, veteran pro-Palestine activist (Omar Al Mokhtar)
- Dr Yvonne Ridley, 67, journalist and founding Alba member (Omar Al Mokhtar)
The National was in contact with the four activists - who are all based in Glasgow - until Israel began intercepting boats.
Israeli police said on Friday it has processed 470 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla at Ashdod port in Israel.
The activists are reportedly ready to be deported and will soon be transferred over to Israel's population and immigration authority and the Israel prison service for processing before they are deported.
However, concerns have been raised around the wellbeing of the activists, with some reportedly threatening to go on hunger strike.
A video circulating on social media on Thursday evening showed far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visiting the flotilla activists in Ashdod port, where he appeared to taunt them and brand them "terrorists".
The families of the Scottish activists who were detained by Israel have now spoken with The National.
They have urged Israel to immediately release their loved ones and have called on the UK Government to intervene.
Read The National's interviews with the four Scottish activists taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla
- Scottish activist 'privileged' to take part in 'historic' flotilla mission to Gaza
- Indy activist onboard flotilla slams Labour's 'despicable response' to calls for help
- 'Glasgow's with us in spirit': The two Scots taking a hospital aid ship to Gaza
The family of Jim Hickey told The National: "Jim had been in contact up until the boat he was travelling in was intercepted in the early hours of Thursday morning.
"We understand that he has been detained and is now in custody in Israel.
"Jim wanted to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and this is an issue he feels passionately about.
"We, as a family, just want him to return home safe and well."
Isma Khan, the wife of activist Sid Khan, said she has received no updates on her husband's condition since he was detained by Israel.
She spoke of the fear and uncertainty she feels around both Sid's detention and the wider reality for Palestinians who are enduring imprisonment, siege and displacement at the hands of Israel.
She said: "They can capture our loved ones, but they cannot capture the truth of our solidarity."
Khan addressed an emergency protest called in response to Israel's interception of the flotilla in Glasgow on Thursday.
She told the crowd: "The main message my husband said to me that I have to portray out to everyone is: continue doing all your hard work, because we're making a difference."
Isma Khan, the wife of Sid Khan - who was on the Adara boat which was intercepted by Israel - addresses an emergency protest in Glasgow ‘We have opened the eyes of the world’ pic.twitter.com/vKGYLjEkj1
— Lucy Jackson (@LucyAJackson_) October 2, 2025
Khan also called on the UK Government to take action to ensure the safety of the activists, while also urging the public to keep marching and speaking out "until Palestine is free".
John Pacetta, husband of detained activist Margaret Pacetta, also told The National he had received no updates on his wife but hoped she would be released "within several days".
He expressed concerns for her wellbeing as she has brittle asthma and is also vegan, but stressed he knew "she'll be strong".
"I haven't slept a wink over the last three to four days," he told The National.
"We lost all communications, and then I must have fallen asleep for an hour then I got a phone call from Margaret saying 'we're going to Gaza'.
"They hadn't stayed where they were told to and had broken through, I think they got to about 40 to 50 miles from the Gazan coast before they were boarded."
Margaret has previously spent around four days in an Israeli detention centre. She has also received a lifetime ban on entering Israel, and was previously shot by the IDF while protesting against an illegal Israeli settlement in the West Bank.
John continued: "She knows what to expect so she was priming everyone else, she was trying to kind of mother them. Everybody else is more scared than Margaret.
"She'll be strong, I know that."
The Scottish Government previously urged Israel to allow the safe passage of the Global Sumud Flotilla into Gaza.
And during First Minister's Questions on Thursday, in response to a question from Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer, John Swinney said the Scottish Government is in contact with the UK Government.
He said: "This morning [Thursday], 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."
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are extremely concerned about the situation with the Sumud flotilla. We are in touch with the families of those 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, with due respect for the rights of all those on board, and in line with international law.
“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.”
