AN activist taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla has accused the Labour Government of refusing to assist her after being imprisoned by Israel.
Yvonne Ridley, based in the Scottish Borders, said the Labour Government had refused to pay for her repatriation flight back to the UK.
The 67-year-old was sailing on the Omar Al Mokhtar boat – which originally set sail from Libya – as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was aiming to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israeli forces intercepted the 40-strong convoy in international waters last week, detaining nearly 500 people and imprisoning them in the notorious Ketziot prison, where activists reported being subject to degrading conditions, torture, and a lack of access to food and water, among other things.
Concerns were raised regarding Ridley's condition after it was reported she was being subject to "aggressive" and "intimidating" treatment, was without medication and had joined a number of other activists in going on hunger strike in protest.
Ridley, who is originally from the north east of England but is based in Scotland, is a founding member of the Alba Party.
She is also an award-winning journalist who made headlines in 2001 when she was captured by the Taliban and held for 11 days after entering Afghanistan without a visa.
Ridley was deported from Israel on Tuesday along with 130 other activists to Jordan.
The National understands Ridley flew to Istanbul in Turkey before flying to Libya with the rest of the Omar Al Mokhtar crew who were released on Saturday.
She flew to Libya on a private jet belonging to the Libyan government. It is understood the flotilla participants will receive a special welcome from the government upon their arrival.
"I mean, could you imagine Keir Starmer sending a private jet to get me out? It really puts it into perspective how some countries treat their citizens," she told The National.
Ridley said it was "wonderful to be away from that horrible prison", but added that she was "sad for all the children in Gaza" who the activists were unable to reach.
"That was the reason for our mission," she said.
"We just wanted to open a humanitarian corridor on the Mediterranean Sea so that we could get our aid into Gaza.
"I'm sorry we failed you."
🚨 Yvonne Ridley @yvonneridley makes her first video appearance since being released from Israel She thanks people for their support, apologises to the children of Gaza & says she'd rather spend 2 months in a Taliban prison than 2 days with the Israelis 🗣️ 'We will sail again' pic.twitter.com/VKusIMRC8g
— Lucy Jackson (@LucyAJackson_) October 8, 2025
Ridley described the conditions inside the prison the activists were kept in as "horrible".
"The Israelis were savage, they were brutal, they were misogynistic. They made our lives utter hell," she said.
Reflecting on her previous imprisonment by the Taliban, she said: "I'll tell you something straight from the heart, I would rather spend two months in a Taliban prison than two days with the Israelis."
Ridley told The National the British embassy had refused to pay for flights to repatriate her to the UK.
Similar comments were made by fellow Scottish activist Sid Khan, who was also released on Tuesday – along with Glasgow participant Jim Hickey.
The fourth Scottish activist, 71-year-old Margaret Pacetta, was released over the weekend and arrived in Glasgow on Monday, where she described the "horrific" conditions she was kept in.
Khan alleged he was not visited by the British embassy until his fifth day in Ketziot prison.
Khan said that when he asked British officials why they had not yet been released, he was told: "The British Government has no intention of putting on any flights for you at the moment."
Ridley told The National: "I don't know why [the British embassy] was going to do that, because Israel should be picking up the bill for the costs.
"This is a big shame on Britain, and I don't think it would have happened in an independent Scotland."
Both Khan and Hickey are set to arrive in Glasgow on Wednesday evening.
The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.
