Pro-Palestine activists say soldiers snatched them from boats illegally

FOUR Scots are being detained by Israeli authorities after their flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza was intercepted.

- BY GEMMA RYDER

Jim Hickey, Saddaqat Khan, Margaret Pacetta and Yvonne Ridley all travelled from Glasgow as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which is trying to break Israel's sea blockade to the war-torn region.

The mission set off from Spain on August 31 and is made up of over 40 boats with an estimated 500 people in total on board. It's understood 15 people from the group are UK citizens, with four from Scotland. The mission was scheduled to arrive in Gaza yesterday.

Activist Greta Thunberg was among those travelling and footage has been shared on social media of her removal from a vessel.

GSF said the Israeli navy started illegally intercepting vessels on Wednesday night after they ignored warnings to turn back.

Activists claim they were in international waters, about 70 miles off the Gaza coast. It's understood none of the vessels made it to Gaza.