Hopes rise for return of Gaza aid worker

Published on Tuesday 10 February 2009 08:45

THE family of an Edinburgh peace activist detained by the Israelis on an aid mission to Gaza are hoping to welcome her home in the next couple of days.

Theresa McDermott, 42, a postal worker from Pilrig, is currently being held in Ramleh Prison after being arrested last week while taking part in a humanitarian voyage taking 60 tonnes of medicine, food and other supplies to Gaza.

But today her sister said the family had been told she could be heading home soon.

Ms McDermott was one of nine passengers aboard the Togo ship Tali when it was intercepted by the Israeli navy on Wednesday.

An Al-Jazeera TV correspondent on board the Tali said the Israelis fired shots at the ship before boarding.

He claimed the passengers were beaten and kicked by Israeli soldiers before being removed.

All the other passengers and crew were reportedly released on Thursday once the ship had been towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod. There was no word of Ms McDermott's whereabouts until she called her family on Sunday morning to say she was being held in Ramleh Prison.

Her sister Winnie Chambers, a librarian, said: "She managed to phone my brother. It was a very short call just to say she was all right and she was in this prison."

Ms Chambers said her sister had not said anything about whether she had been assaulted.

"There was obviously someone listening to her, so it was just the bare facts of where she was and that she was OK.

"We have had uncorroborated reports that she will be deported in the next day or two. We don't know whether that's true.

"But with any luck she will be home in the next couple of days."

Ms McDermott, a member of the Free Gaza movement, was on the first international boats to reach Gaza in August and later returned with the ship Dignity for a second voyage.

Her sister said the family were naturally worried.

She said: "The situation is very dangerous out there. It's a very brave thing to go and put yourself in danger.

"But Theresa is very committed to this cause and she believes very strongly that every little helps."

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill, who sailed on the aid ship Dignity in November and met Ms McDermott, said she had written to Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

She said: "I'm really concerned for her. We don't have much information about why she is being detained and there are reports that people were beaten up.

"She is a very committed activist and a sweet, mild-mannered woman. It seems extraordinary there would be any grounds to detain her."

Ms McDermott's MP, Mark Lazarowicz, said he had also contacted the Foreign Office to urge it to press for her release.

"What they are doing in trying to get supplies into Gaza is something I support. It is outrageous she has been seized and held apparently incommunicado for four days."

The Foreign office said: "We are aware of this case and are providing appropriate consular assistance."