A SECOND activist from Scotland has been detained by Israel after taking part in a major flotilla to Gaza.
Dr Antonis Vradis, who lives in Fife, was among dozens of activists sailing on the Global Sumud Flotilla when Israel began intercepting the convoy on Monday.
The flotilla is a humanitarian civilian mission which was sailing to Gaza with the aim of delivering much-needed aid. The activists were sailing in international waters – where Israel has no jurisdiction – when armed Israeli soldiers began boarding boats.
Dr Vradis is a staff member at the University of St Andrews, working in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development. He was travelling on the Global Sumud Flotilla as part of the Greek delegation.
It comes as another Scot, 68-year-old Hughie Stirling from Ullapool, was also detained by Israel on Monday, with his loved ones issuing an urgent plea for his safe return.
The University of St Andrews is among those calling for Dr Vradis's release.
A spokesperson for the University of St Andrews told The National: "Antonis made us aware of his plans to take leave to join the flotilla, and also told us that there was a significant risk that he and others would be detained by Israel.
"We are naturally concerned for his wellbeing, and are in touch with our MP, Wendy Chamberlain, to help us establish his exact whereabouts and advocate for his safe and speedy return to St Andrews.”
The University and College Union (UCU) branch at St Andrews University called on members of the university to contact their MP, MSPs and the university principal regarding Dr Vradis's detention.
Meanwhile, the Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association, which works to build links between the two Scottish and Palestinian cities, said: "Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association is deeply concerned for the safety of one of our members, Dr Antonis Vradis.
"He and his colleagues were intercepted yesterday morning 40 nautical miles west of Cyprus and are being transferred to Israel. All contact with Antonis has been lost.
"Antonis is a UK citizen and a resident of Fife. We urge MPs, MSPs and all relevant authorities to act now to ensure the safety of Antonis and his fellow captives."
A spokesperson for the UK delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla said: "UK Global Sumud calls for the immediate and safe return of UK resident Dr Antonis Vradis who was illegally abducted yesterday by the Israeli regime in a brazen and shameful disregard for international law.
"Both the Scottish and UK governments must act without hesitation to demand this illegal act of international piracy is corrected, that all abducted members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including Antonis and all UK delegates, are freed and the essential life saving aid they were carrying be allowed to reach the shores of Gaza."
