Aid worker allegedly abducted by Israeli forces for a second time

AN activist from Newquay has allegedly been “illegally abducted” by Israeli forces “against her will” for a second time.

Katy Davidson was onboard the Global Sumud Flotilla mission taking medicine, food and toys to help people in Palestine when the boats were reportedly “attacked” in international waters on Monday, May 18, at 8am.

Katy and the other 428 participants, including 15 from the UK, were attempting to bring life-saving aid to Gaza and break the “illegal” Israeli siege when the entire flotilla of more than 50 boats was set upon.

The flotilla was thought to be 250 nautical miles from Gaza and about 75 nautical miles southwest of Cyprus when reports of the interception began.

Global Sumud Flotilla accused Israel of an "illegal, high-seas aggression" and said Israeli naval commandos had opened fire at six boats, used water cannon, and intentionally rammed one vessel.

The Israeli foreign ministry said no live ammunition was used and insisted it would "not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza".

The participants were detained and taken to Israel.

A spokesperson for the UK Global Sumud said: “First reports mentioned ribs, small military speedboats, approaching flotilla vessels, as well as larger Israeli warships, followed by heavily armed Israeli soldiers forcing their way aboard.

“Comms were then invariably lost as Israeli soldiers smashed cameras and participants tossed their phones into the water.

“The interceptions continued sporadically throughout the night before resuming in earnest in the morning.

“The attacks were even more aggressive, with Israeli soldiers shooting at several boats and even ramming one.

“All 428 participants, 15 from the UK, were illegally detained aboard Israeli prison boats and have since been taken to Israel.

“We understand they are being processed and transferred to Ketziot prison before presumably being deported in the coming days.”

There has been international condemnation of Israel's treatment of pro-Palestinian activists who were on board the Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli naval forces.

The US, the UK, France, Italy and Canada were among the countries which expressed outrage after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing himself taunting activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.

The ultra-nationalist, who, as national security minister, oversees Israel's police force, was visiting a detention facility at the port of Ashdod where the activists are being held.

He is seen encouraging security personnel as they push down a female activist who shouts "Free, Free, Palestine" as he walks past her.

Ben-Gvir is then shown waving a large Israeli flag next to dozens of activists kneeling on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs. He tells them in Hebrew: "Welcome to Israel. We are the masters."

Other activists are shown kneeling on the deck of a ship as the Israeli national anthem is played.

His actions drew rare criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said they were "not in line with Israel's values.”

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the video showed "totally disgraceful scenes", adding that she had sent a summons to the Israeli embassy to demand an "urgent explanation".

She earlier said the government was "in touch with the families of a number of British nationals involved to provide them with consular support.”

Netanyahu said: "Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza.

"However, the way that Minister Ben-Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel's values and norms."

The prime minister added that he had instructed Israeli authorities to "deport the provocateurs as soon as possible".

Katy was previously in international waters off the coast of Greece when several of the vessels in the 47-strong flotilla she was part of were reportedly illegally intercepted by the Israeli Navy after being surrounded by dozens of drones, speedboats, and large military warships in the early hours of Thursday, April 30.

Twenty-one vessels were said to have been boarded during a night-time operation, with dozens of participants taken into custody, including Katy.

Katy says she was taken onboard a supply ship before being taken to Crete and flown back to the UK.