Scottish activist Sid Khan detained by Israeli forces to be reunited with family

A Scottish activist who was detained by Israeli forces is “safe” and set to be reunited with his family.

Sid Khan was one of four Scots held on Wednesday night after Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of 42 boats seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the famine-stricken territory.

Those detained between Wednesday and Friday were brought to Israel and put in prison.

Isma Tahir Khan had not heard from her husband, Sid, who was taken alongside Scots Jim Hickey, Margaret Pacetta and Yvonne Ridley, for four days.

On Tuesday, she revealed in an update that her husband was “safe” and due to return home after 131 people left the detention centre.

She wrote: “Dear everyone, this morning (Tuesday), just moments ago, I received a call from the embassy confirming that Saddaqat (Sid) is safe.

“Alhamdulillah, 131 people have been deported today and have left the detention centre.

“We don’t yet have the exact details of Sid’s return, but we are waiting on the embassy for further updates.

“I just wanted to personally thank each and every one of you for your incredible support, your letters, campaigning, messages, love, care, and duas.

“I can’t express how much your strength and solidarity have meant to me through these past days.

“As you can imagine, it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions we were told otherwise last night, hence the urgent release poster that went out early this morning. But the main thing is: he is safe, and he is coming home, in shaa Allah.”

“From the bottom of my heart thank you, truly. Isma Khan and family.”

Isma previously told STV News that she was told by the Foreign Office on Sunday that Israel will not allow the British Consulate to see her husband to check on his welfare.

She said: “Sid got involved in it because he couldn’t stand watching innocent women and children being starved.

“He has been an activist for Palestine for over 20 years. He previously delivered aid to Gaza with the Scottish Government back in 2010.

“He feels that now has been the worst ethnic cleansing, and he wanted to go in person to deliver aid to starving babies. These ships that they have gone on, all they have is medicine, baby formula for starving kids, and food.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office told STV News that they are supporting a number of British nationals who have been detained in Israel and say they are in touch with the local authorities.

On Monday, First Minister John Swinney said he was “very concerned” about the wellbeing of the four Scots detained by Israel.

Some activists have alleged mistreatment at the hands of Israeli guards, which Israel denies.

The Israeli foreign ministry said it offered voluntary deportation to all of the activists and those that remain in detention chose to stay there in order to go through a legal deportation process.

On Monday, Swinney called for the immediate release of the Scots.

He said: “I’m very concerned about the wellbeing of the individuals who are part of the flotilla that are now being held in Israel.

“We have been in touch on an ongoing basis with the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) since Thursday and I’m very satisfied with the engagement that we’ve had with the FCDO, and they’re dealing with a difficult situation with the Israeli government.

“But what I would make a plea for is for there to be urgent consular access for all individuals to make sure their wellbeing is assured – that should be an absolute given in any of these circumstances.

“And also for the immediate return of those individuals.

“We are making those representations to the United Kingdom Government, who are, of course, interacting with the Israeli government on these questions.”