Partner of Gaza flotilla Scot tells of relief knowing he is alive

The partner of a Scot detained in Israel after taking part in a pro-Palestinian flotilla of boats attempting to reach Gaza has told of her relief that he is alive.

Hughie Stirling, 68, from Ullapool, was on a boat intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters earlier this week.

His partner Caroline Williams said she heard nothing more of him for two days.

She has since been able to speak to him after he and others were deported to Turkey, where he ended up in a hospital in Istanbul.

Williams said she first knew he was in Israel when a video emerged on Wednesday of a far-right Israeli national security minister taunting detainees, who could be seen kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.

Ben Gvir's actions have drawn strong international condemnation from countries including the US and UK.

There was also criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Williams told BBC Scotland News: "I felt sick because you obviously want to help."

She said she had felt helpless to do anything, and only finally made contact with Stirling once he was in hospital.

"We managed to find somebody who could find my number in his passport," said Williams.

"I had a very quick phone call. He sounded really discombobulated."

But she added: "It was just such a relief to hear he was alive."

Williams added that Stirling was now in a hotel and she hoped to get friends in Turkey to track him down.

Williams said her partner was one of three people from Ullapool who left early last month to join the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which its organisers described as a humanitarian mission to deliver aid.

Israel dismissed the action as a "PR stunt" seeking to help the Palestinian armed group, Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group by the UK and other governments.

Williams said Stirling was aware of the risks of being detained, and said she was "very proud" of him.

"Yes, they knew it was going to happen," she said.

"There was only a tiny chance they would get to Gaza and they did have aid, obviously they didn't have enough aid to solve the whole problem, but they had aid, and medics and builders and enough to build a schools.

"The most likely scenario was this [interception and detention] and a big part of the flotilla was to raise awareness."

She said she could have asked Stirling to come home sooner but added that he would not have been happy because he would not have achieved what he set out to do.

Williams said she knew she could look forward to the "luxury" of eventually having him home when others had lost their lives in Gaza.

Dr Antonis Vradis – an academic at the University of St Andrews - was also involved in the flotilla.

In an email to students and staff, the university said Dr Vradis was now safely in Turkey where he is being offered medical attention before returning home.

It said his family had confirmed he had been in touch to tell them he was safe and well.

The UK Foreign Office said it was deeply concerned by the detention conditions depicted and it was providing support to those involved.