Dundee man Ali El-Awaisi is heading home after being released from the Be’er Sheva prison in the Negev desert three days after his aid ship was intercepted by Israeli troops.
The 21-year-old was on the Mavi Marmara, which was boarded by commandos, and his brother Khalid feared he was among those killed or injured.
After three days of agony, the El-Awaisi family finally received the message at their Dundee home that Ali was free in a brief phone call.
He said, “I’m on the plane. I’m safe. Just a quick call to say I’m OK.”
His brother Khalid spoke of the family’s ordeal, which began on Monday when commandos attacked the aid convoy and killed nine people.
The confirmation came on Wednesday that Ali was on a plane at Tel Aviv airport and due to fly to Turkey.
Khalid said, “We do not know when the plane will take off, it may not be until Thursday, at least he is not in that notorious prison any more.”
Khalid recalled that it was not the first time that the family had faced an agonising wait, wondering whether Ali was alive or dead.
He was a primary two pupil in 1996 at Dunblane when Thomas Hamilton killed 16 infants.
Khalid said, “We had to wait then too.
“It has been such a hard day, phoning and trying to find out what was going on.
“We only found out this morning that Ali was unharmed.”Call from consulateKhalid had managed to speak to the first British activist to get home, Dr Hazan Nowarah from Glasgow, before getting that call from the plane.
He said, “He had met Ali on the ship and said he was doing his normal activities, skipping and exercising. Ali tried to get them all to do press-ups.
“The atmosphere had been amazing but then came the attack. The doctor was deported quickly because he was injured.”
He added, “Eventually someone called from the consulate and told us Ali was on the airport and on a passenger list.
“The Israelis did not allow the consul to speak to Ali.
“The way they have treated the people on the convoy has been unbelievable. Ali and the others all had their mobiles, money and cameras taken off them before getting on to the plane.
“They just have the clothes they stand up in. Of course, there is plenty of evidence on the cameras to show exactly what happened on those ships.
“The Turkish government sent three 747s to take the people to Istanbul. Someone on the plane lent them a mobile and everyone was allowed a few seconds to phone their families and friends.
“Ali sounded extremely tired but I could feel his resilience.”Could continue aid effortsKhalid said he does not know if Ali will return to the UK or continue his efforts to get aid to Gaza.
The £30,000 of relief supplies sent to Gaza from Dundee could cause another diplomatic furore, as the ship carrying it is due to arrive in the region shortly.
The MV Rachel Corrie’s cargo includes 13 pallets of medicine, clothes, toys and building materials donated in Tayside.
It made a slower approach than the flotilla that was raided, but is headed for Gaza.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire is among those on the ship and Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has appealed for its safe arrival.
Khalid said, “We are just over the moon just now. Hopefully Ali will come back and carry on the mission, hopefully if he makes it back before the Rachel Corrie reaches Gaza he will carry on the campaign.
“This ship has the stuff from Dundee and everyone has seen this. There is five tonnes of cement, building materials, books, toys and over £30,000.”
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman confirmed a large number of British citizens have began the return journey, but added that not everybody is on their way home.
She said, “We are urgently seeking further clarifications about the situation of the other British nationals.”