A BRITISH woman living in Episkopi spoke of her anger last night as her partner remained locked up in an Israeli prison.
Ruth Baker told the Cyprus Mail that her long-term partner Denis Healey was being detained after captaining the Challenger One which was part of the Free Gaza Movement flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli forces on Monday.
“I have heard nothing at all from Denis, the British Foreign Office rang me today and said he was being held at Beersheba prison, but they can’t confirm this until the consular people have visited the prison, which has not happened yet,” she said.
It is understood, but not confirmed, that Healey, 55, is one of sixteen detainees that underwent an examination by the Israeli Interior Ministry, and were transferred by Nahshon Unit guards to the Ela Prison in Beersheba.
“He was not the Captain of the Turkish boat that was attacked, but they were all attacked apparently, I don’t know if his boat was shot at as we have no details – I am completely in the dark,” Baker added.
Healey’s boat was carrying around 20 passengers including three German MPs, a Swedish MP and a U.S. former colonel.
He has a longstanding involvement in the Palestinian movement and has captained boats on previous aid journeys into Gaza, including one two years ago in which the boat was rammed by an Israeli gunboat.
Healey is an experienced captain and marine engineer, who has lived in Cyprus for the past decade. His detention comes just 10 months after he was held in an Israeli prison after captaining the Free Gaza Movement voyage last year.
Healey, from Portsmouth was held in July 2009 with 19 other peace activists and faced charges of illegally entering Israeli waters – after the Israeli Navy forcibly boarded his Free Gaza Movement boat Spirit of Humanity in international waters and arrested all on board.
Baker said that she would now just have to wait and see as there was no way of contacting her partner.
“We have not spoken since Saturday, I’m not worried – but I am very angry, there was no need for Israel to take the action they did.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said that it was “urgently seeking access” to the Britons who are being held in the town of Beersheba. It is believed that 28 people from the UK were taking part in the aid effort when it came under fire.
