British Journalist Missing After Israeli Detention Following GSF Flotilla Hijacking
The Scottish activist and participant in the Global Sumud Flotilla vanished during deportation from Ketziot prison after being denied medication while on hunger strike.
United Kingdom, PUREWILAYAH.COM - British journalist and human rights activist Yvonne Ridley has gone missing after being imprisoned by Israeli forces while taking part in a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza.
Ridley, 67, was among nearly 500 participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla, a mission attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
The flotilla was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters late Wednesday and into Thursday, before reaching Gaza’s shores.
According to reports, Ridley was being held at Ketziot prison in the Negev desert, where she went on hunger strike and was denied her medication.
Missing During Deportation to Istanbul
Media outlets quoting informed sources said that Ridley was scheduled to be deported to Istanbul on Sunday, but she disappeared during the transfer process.
Her current whereabouts remain unknown, and there are growing concerns about her safety.
She had been granted consular access on Friday, when it was reported that the conditions in which she was being held were “deeply concerning.”
Her family was told that her treatment had been “aggressive” and “intimidating.”
Reports also indicated that Israeli prison authorities had confiscated her medication and provided substitutes, which she refused to take.
Harsh Conditions and Political Interference
Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was filmed visiting Ketziot prison on Friday, where he said flotilla activists should be treated as “terrorists” and imprisoned for “a few months.”
During the visit, the detained activists confronted him and chanted “Free Palestine.”
Earlier, Hamas condemned Ben-Gvir’s visit as “a disgraceful act” and held him responsible for the mistreatment of peaceful international activists.
The movement said that the Israeli minister sought to project a false image of victory while his government faces increasing global isolation.
Illegal Interception in International Waters
The Israeli military seized more than 40 vessels from the flotilla and detained hundreds of activists on board.
The convoy was sailing in international waters when it was intercepted, prompting condemnation from international observers who described the action as a violation of maritime law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the operation and the forces involved in intercepting the flotilla.
Several of the detained participants, including Ridley, were sent to Ketziot prison, which has long been criticized by human rights organizations for its harsh conditions and record of abuse.
Global Reactions
Large demonstrations took place across Europe, Asia, and Latin America on Friday in support of Palestine and in condemnation of Israel’s raids on the flotilla.
Protesters called for the immediate release of the detained activists and accountability for the Israeli forces involved in the interception.
Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza since October 2023 has so far killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children. (PW)
Sources: QNN, Tasnim News