Indian-origin man among Britishers caught on Gaza aid ships

H S Rao

London, Jun 2 (PTI) Ismail Adam Patel, an Indian-
origin optician from Leicestershire is among 40 British
citizens caught up in an Israeli raid on a convoy of Gaza-
bound aid ships and his family is yet to hear from him.

Patel, 47, of Oadby was one of up to 40 British
citizens taking part in the humanitarian convoy that came
under attack by Israeli naval commandoes on Monday.
The bloody violence on the fleet of six ships bound
for Gaza left at least nine people dead and many others
injured.
For the past 48 hours, Patel's family have been unable
to contact him, but it is understood he is not among the
wounded and is being detained in southern Israel.
Quoting his relatives, Leicester Mercury, a daily,
Wednesday said they have received many messages of support
from across the city and are hoping and praying for the safe
return of the father of three.
"The Foreign Office says my brother's name is not on
the list of the injured or on the list of those already
deported. Nobody has spoken to him but I heard an embassy
official may be trying to make contact later," Patel's younger
brother Shockat said.
"We are very anxious and looking for any kind of news
or contact - we are all taking it in turns to read all the
newspapers and watching TV," he said.
Shadow Foreign Secretary David Miliband sent a message
of support to Patel's family during his visit to Leicester
on Tuesday, saying he understood the family's concern.
Councillor Manjula Sood, chairwoman of the Leicester
Council of Faiths said: "What has happened is a terrible loss
of human life, especially as they were delivering humanitarian
supplies to people who are facing a humanitarian crisis.
"The siege in Gaza should now end to avoid any more
human suffering".
About 500 activists have now been detained in Israel,
some 50 have been deported and another 50 are being treated in
Israeli hospitals.
The flotilla, carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid, left the
coast of Cyprus on Sunday and had been due to arrive in Gaza
on Monday.
Patel, a well known figure in Leicester's Muslim
community, set up the local branch of the pro-Palestinian
organisation Friends of Al Aqsa, about 15 years ago.
Previously he was vice-president of the University of
Leicester Islamic Society and two years ago founded the
IslamExpo in London. PTI HSR
MYR