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<h1><font size=4><b>Disappeared free Gaza activist, Teresa McDermott,
found in Israel's Ramleh
Prison</b></font></h1><font size=3>
<a href="http://www.imemc.org/article/58830" eudora="autourl">
http://www.imemc.org/article/58830<br><br>
</a>
<img src="http://www.imemc.org/graphics/date.gif" width=12 height=10 alt="author">
Monday February 09, 2009
12:43<img src="http://www.imemc.org/graphics/person.gif" width=14 height=12 alt="author">
by Staff - IMEMC News <br><br>
</font>Scottish activist Teresa McDermott was found in Ramleh prison,
four days after the Israeli Government claimed she suposedly
"disappeared", after being forcibly removed from a seaborne
Lebanese aid mission to Gaza, a statement sent to IMEMC on Monday
by the Free Gaza movement said. <br><br>
Teresa was one of only nine passengers aboard the cargo ship on February
4, 2009 when Israeli gunboats intercepted it, boarded, and forced the
ship to Ashdod port in Israel. All the passengers and crew aboard were
released on Thursday, February 5, except Teresa. <br><br>
Between Thursday evening and Sunday morning there was no word in regards
to Teresa's whereabouts, except for several false stories stating that
"Britons" had departed to London. <br><br>
Finally, on Sunday, Teresa was able to call her brother John in Scotland
to say she was in Ramleh prison in Israel. According to Al Jazeera
journalist, Salam Khodr, when the ship was boarded, the passengers were
beaten and kicked by Israeli soldiers before being removed from the ship.
No information has been provided by Israeli officials about why Teresa
has been detained, what the charges are, if any, and why her detention
was concealed. <br><br>
When the British Consulate in Israel was contacted for assistance in
finding Teresa, staff refused to help locate Teresa saying they couldn't
provide assistance to a UK citizen unless she personally requested
it. <br><br>
Members of the Scottish Parliament including Pauline McNeil and Hugh
O'Donnell, who were part of a fall delegation to Gaza aboard the Free
Gaza boat, Dignity, are working with the British government to ensure
that Teresa receives the protection and assistance to which she is
entitled. <br><br>
Teresa went to Gaza with the first Free Gaza boats in August and returned
with the ship Dignity for a second voyage. She is a respected, long time
human rights activist who has worked with the International Solidarity
Movement in Palestine, as well as with Free Gaza. <br><br>
At home in Scotland, she works for the Post Office. The Israelis
found only medical and other humanitarian aid on the Tali but refused to
return the ship. The status of its humanitarian cargo is
unknown.<br><br>
<font size=3>
**************************************************************<br><br>
Scottish activist on humanitarian mission for Gaza found in Israeli
prison<br><br>
<a href="http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4743&Itemid=1" eudora="autourl">
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4743&Itemid=1<br>
</a>09.02.09 - 13:08 <br><br>
Gaza / PNN – The missing passenger from the Lebanese ship bringing aid to
Gaza was found yesterday. Resident of Scotland, Teresa McDermott, was
able to telephone her brother from Ramle Prison on Sunday.<br><br>
The Israeli administration arrested all of the passengers from the Togo
flagged ship, Tali, last week after "beating and kicking"
them.<br><br>
That report was confirmed by Al Jazeera reporter Salam Khader who was on
board.<br><br>
For four days McDermott was held without contact in the Tel Aviv area
Israeli prison. She was one of nine passengers aboard the cargo ship
carrying medical and humanitarian supplies as part of ongoing local and
international efforts to break the siege on Gaza. On 4 February Israeli
gunboats intercepted and boarded the ship, forcing it into the Israeli
Ashdod port.<br><br>
The Tali was impounded and the aid confiscated. The Israelis said they
would release the blood donations that were on board. All of the
passengers were released on Thursday and Friday except for McDermott. It
is unknown what the Israeli issue is with this particular woman who works
as a postal clerk in Scotland and is described as a respected activist.
The British Consulate in Tel Aviv was not said to be helpful in locating
the Brit. Members of Scottish Parliament who have participated in past
voyages with McDermott to break the siege, Pauline McNeil and Hugh
O’Donnell, are working on the issue.<br><br>
The year and a half siege on the Gaza Strip brought the medical sector to
a near standstill with medicines banned along with materials to repair
equipment. Sewage, water and electricity were greatly impacted under the
siege that continues even after the major attacks that killed 1,330
Palestinians have ceased.<br><br>
Five voyages have successfully arrived since August with several chased
back. The Israeli administration said that the fate of the Lebanese ship
will be that of any others that attempt future humanitarian missions to
the Gaza Strip.<br><br>
<br><br>
</font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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