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Gaza flotilla: Israel holds 29 Britons at Be'er Sheva

By Channel 4 News

Updated on 01 June 2010

Channel 4 News can confirm that 29 British nationals, captured in the raid on the so-called "freedom flotilla", are being held in an Israeli jail, while Ahsan Shamruk is being treated in hospital. 

Ashan Shamrak

The British consulate has now gained access to many of the British activists on board the Mavi Marmara, the Challenger 1 and other ships in the flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces on Monday.

Two Britons are believed to have been deported from Israel already, but there is no news on how long Israeli forces can hold the other activists, or if it has any intention to charge them, and if so, what with.

Israel has said it will immediately deport the hundreds of foreign activists seized aboard the Turkish-backed aid flotilla.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been unable to release a list of Britons on board the ship, as many of those being detained have refused to give their names to Israeli suthorities, or have destroyed their paperwork, making it hard to give firm numbers of Britons involved. Some are also believed to hold dual nationality.

Consular officials have provided assistance to 29 of the 31 people who have requested it, and will return to the prison on wednesday morning. They say they have received no reports of mistreatment at the jail.

Channel 4 News has received a list of names compiled by various reports in the Arab media. The FCO confirmed to Channel 4 News that one Briton has been injured. He has been named as Ahsan Shamruk. He is believed to be in a stable condition as is being treated in hospital.

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Shamruk's Facebook page reveals him to be actively involved in the Palestinian cause. He belongs to groups such as Ship to Gaza, The History of Palestine, Voice and Echoes of Palestine, and Islamic Human Rights Commission.
He was a member of the Viva Palestina group, a UK registered charity founded by controversial former MP George Galloway. The group campaigns for the rights of Palestinians and aims to get humanitarian supplies out to the Gaza strip.


Although the flotilla was not organised by Viva Palestina, the group did send three official delegates, who have been named as Kevin Ovenden, political aid to George Galloway, Nader Daher and Nicola Enchmarch.

Other supporters of the Viva Palestina group believed to be held in Israel include Alex Harrison, Ismail Patel, Sidique Hajee, Ibrahim Musaji, Mohammed Bayyat, Nur Choudhary, Baboo Adam Zanjharwala, Tauqir Sharif and Alexandra Lort Phillips.

Viva Palestina supporter Peter Venner is also missing. The 63-year-old's partner Rachel Bridgeland told Channel 4 News that claims those on the flotilla were violent were "nonsense", saying Mr Venner, a father of two, was "an ordinary man" who ran a wood yard but felt strongly about the Gaza situation.

"I'm very concerned and waiting by the phone but, assuming he's not dead, he will be imprisoned by the Israelis and they won't let him make contact."

And another member of Galloway's group, Hassan Al Banna Ghani is also among those being held. The 24-year-old journalist was nominated for Channel 4’s 4talent awards in 2008 and was named Young Scottish Muslim of the Year by Scotland first minister Alex Salmond in 2008.

He has produced films such as Three Uncles go to Gaza, Lifeline to Gaza, In search of Prisoner 650, Home from Home, The Silent Prisoners.

Three other Scots were also on board. They are believed to  be postal worker Theresa McDermott, who founded the Free Gaza - Scotland organisation with fellow activist Carl Abernethy.

McDermott was last heard from in a text message on Monday morning. The message, later forwarded to supporters, read: "Hi, deaths on freedom flotilla! From Carl Abernethy on behalf of Theresa McDermott (Free Gaza - Scotland) on board one of the vessels."

Also missing is Dundee-based estate agent Ali El-Awaisi and IT professional Hasan Nowarah.

Other Britons believed to have been in the convoy are: Jazeera English journalist Jamal Elshayyal, Laura Macdonald Stuart, Jamal Sayed, Parveen Yaqub , Mustafa Cengiz Ahmet, Boudjema Bounoua, Mohammad Bounoua, Sakir Yildirim, Kenneth O’Keefe, Ali El-Awaisi, Sarah Nancy Colborne (PSC) ,Mahi Mohammed Abid, Nur-E-Azom Choudhury, Clifford Gardner Hanley, Muzzammil Layth Chogley, Lazrag Salah and Ali Altan.

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