AN Israeli conductor for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra has been arrested at a protest near the border between Israel and Gaza.
Ilan Volkov was one of four people detained by Israeli police on Friday while marching towards the Gaza border, calling for an end to the genocide which has now killed at least 65,141 people.
Footage obtained by Channel 4 News showed Volkov being led away by officers into the back of a police vehicle.
As he was being taken by police, Volkov said: "We need to stop the genocide now. It's ruining everyone's lives. Stop it."
An Israeli conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ilan Volkov has been arrested at a protest near the Israel-Gaza border. Last week, a clip of him at the Royal Albert Hall condemning Israel’s actions in the almost two-year long war in Gaza went viral. pic.twitter.com/7Q1HTcdN2J
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) September 19, 2025
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported four people were detained, including Volkov, and were released "after a short time".
Volkov, who was born in Tel Aviv, was first appointed as the principal conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the age of 26, before becoming principal guest conductor in 2009.
A video of Volkov speaking during a concert at the BBC Proms, where he was conducting the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, went viral last week after he called for people to mobilise to "stop [the] madness" in Gaza.
"I come from Israel, I live there, I love it, it's my home," Volkov told the audience at the Royal Albert Hall last Thursday.
"But what's happening now is atrocious and horrific."
He continued: "Israelis, Jews and Palestinians – we are not able to stop this alone.
"I ask you, I beg you all to do whatever is in your power to stop this madness."
He added that "every moment that passes puts the safety of millions at risk".
Speaking after the concert, Volkov said he would not be working in Israel "for the foreseeable future".
He told The Times: "The phrase ‘not in my name’ is not always helpful but this war is happening in my name, and I am going to fight against it.
"We have to make a stand. We have to think creatively about what we can do. I believe that now all non-violent ways of trying to influence the situation are crucial."
