TWO Scottish activists taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla have called on MSPs to urge for their protection as they aim to break Israel’s siege and deliver essential aid to Gaza.
Award-winning journalist and a founding member of the Alba Party, 67-year-old Dr Yvonne Ridley, and 70-year-old grandmother and veteran pro-Palestine activist from Glasgow, Margaret Pancetta, both joined the Gaza-bound flotilla to help deliver key aid.
The pair said that they are currently sailing in solidarity with the Palestinian people and in defiance of the “inhumane blockade imposed on Gaza” by Israel.
In a letter to MSPs, the pair explained they joined the flotilla because “where our Government has failed to act, we have taken it upon ourselves to take aid to people in the most dire situation”.
Mass starvation has spread across Gaza amidst an unprecedented man-made humanitarian catastrophe as Israel has deliberately restricted the entry of critical supplies.
Previously, volunteers have been blocked or detained by the Israeli navy while carrying out similar attempts to deliver food and medical supplies to people in Gaza.
Ridley and Pancetta have now called on MSPs to demand the protection of the four Scottish nationals, including Sid Khan and James Hickey, who are on board vessels part of the flotilla.
In the letter, the pair wrote: “Our mission is grounded in the principles of international law, human dignity, and the urgent need for justice.
“We, as women, are simply trying to put food in the mouths of bairns who are being deliberately starved by a genocidal state.
“Scotland has a proud tradition of standing up for justice and human rights.
“As our elected representatives of the Scottish people, you have a powerful voice on the world stage. We urge you to use it.”
Alongside the letter, Mothers Against Genocide Scotland said they have requested a meeting with First Minister John Swinney regarding the Scottish activists' part of the flotilla's safety and are awaiting a response.
The flotilla is made up of around 50 boats with activists from 44 different countries, including 13 participants from the UK.
On Tuesday evening, the flotilla reported being subject to drone attacks while sailing in international waters.
There were 13 explosions and chemical attacks onboard several vessels, although no injuries were reported.
Several vessels part of the flotilla had also come under drone attack when they were docked outside the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said.
Ridley and Pancetta concluded their letter by saying: “We urge the parliament of Scotland and every MSP to make a clear statement to Israel that the flotilla must be allowed to sail to Gaza and we must be protected.
“The people of Gaza cannot wait. Too many lives have already been lost. We sail for them, and we ask that you speak for them — now, when it matters most.”
When approached for comment, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to those who urgently need it.”
Last month, famine was declared in Gaza City for the first time by the international body responsible for monitoring world hunger.
The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has only declared four famines since it was established in 2004, most recently in Sudan last year.
The IPC briefing states: “After 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions, characterised by starvation, destitution and death."
It added that based on current projections, famine is expected to expand to the governorates of Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September.
Another 1.07 million people – more than half of Gaza's population – are already facing "emergency" levels of food insecurity.
