SCOTTISH activists taking part in a historic humanitarian mission to Gaza have been detained by Israel.
Around 500 people were sailing to Gaza on more than 40 boats as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Israel began intercepting the boats after 6.20pm on Wednesday. As of 9am on Thursday, 20 boats are confirmed to have been intercepted, with another 10 assumed to have been.
Activists reported their communication signals being jammed and a number of boats being surrounded.
Israeli forces then began boarding ships, focusing first on the larger vessels.
CCTV footage from the flotilla showed Israeli ships using water cannons on several vessels, while activists also reported one boat had been "rammed" by an Israeli navy vessel.
It is understood all four Scottish participants taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla have been intercepted and detained by Israel.
The four Scottish activists taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla are:
- 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 Adara, which Khan was sailing on, was one of the first boats to be intercepted by Israel, just before 8.30pm on Wednesday.
Hickey's boat, the Seulle, was intercepted shortly after 1am on Thursday.
Pacetta and Ridley were sailing in the Omar Al Mokhtar boat, a separate project which was sailing alongside the Global Sumud Flotilla.
In a post on Instagram shortly after 8am on Thursday, it was confirmed the Omar Al Mokhtar was being intercepted. It is understood those onboard have now been detained.
The National has lost contact with all the Scottish activists taking part in the flotilla. It is protocol upon interception for activists to throw their mobile devices in the sea so they are not seized by Israel or mistaken for weapons.
Meanwhile, an Edinburgh University student, Mina Moreno, originally from Mexico, was sailing on the Shireen vessel, which is carrying legal observers.
The Shireen turned around shortly after interception began and is currently heading away from the flotilla.
A number of emergency protests have been organised in Scotland on Thursday in response to the interception.
The UK Government said it was "very concerned" by the situation, adding that it has urged Israeli authorities to resolve the situation "safely", in line with international law.
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."
The spokesperson added: "It is the responsibility of the Israeli government to resolve the atrocious humanitarian crisis in Gaza. That means immediately and unconditionally lifting restrictions on aid so that the UN and NGOs can deliver food, medicine and other essentials to civilians in desperate need.
"Delivering aid on the scale needed can only be done through the well established land routes that need to be properly opened now.
"That should form part of a wider and urgent series of actions to end this crisis for good, including an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages by Hamas, and the commitment of all parties to the initiatives under way to deliver a just and lasting peace."
The Scottish Government has also been contacted for comment.
