Postie says Gunpoint ordeal won't stop my return to Gaza

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Gunpoint arrest ordeal won't stop my return to Gaza

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By HAZEL MOLLISON
AN aid worker today vowed to return to Gaza after being stopped at gunpoint from delivering medical supplies and food.
Theresa McDermott, 42, is back at home in Pilrig after being released from 12 days in prison in Israel following her arrest off the Gaza coast.

She was one of nine passengers – along with an archbishop, an 80-year-old professor and four journalis
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ts – aboard a cargo ship which was trying to deliver 60 tonnes of aid.

Israel is blocking supplies being delivered to Gaza following mortar attacks on its territories.

The 42-year-old Royal Mail worker – who is a member of the Free Gaza campaign – described events as the ship she was aboard, Dignity, was boarded by Israeli troops on February 4.

She said: "We could see the Gaza coastline. As we crossed into Gaza waters, several gunboats approached and started firing over the boat. There was quite heavy fire. There were about ten boats and a helicopter. They came up and boarded the boat. It seemed excessive for such a small group of people.

"It all happened so quickly, I could hardly think about it. They came and tied us all up. It was really frightening but I just tried to stay calm. They hit some of us and were quite rough about taking cameras and mobile phones.

"I was held with two other women. I asked to be taken to the toilet and I managed to look in the other doors. I could hear them screaming at the captain down in the bowels of the boat. I could hear horrible shouting. I was told later they had beaten him up.

"Apart from being tied up I wasn't in any particular discomfort. It was hard being taken off because I didn't know what was happening to the others."

The determined activist said she was held in an isolation cell in very basic conditions for four days before her family were told of her whereabouts. She was then transferred to another Israeli prison, before being sent home.

She is now relaxing with her partner Jim Burns and her family, but plans to return to work next week.

"I'm definitely relieved to be home, but it's too important not to go back," she said.

"I've visited Gaza a couple of times and the blockade has absolutely stifled people there. Even the basic necessities like food and medicine are not being allowed in.

"My family are really relieved I'm home. The first things I wanted to do were to have a shower and some real food. They're trying to persuade me not to go back but, once you've seen what's happening, you have to do something."