UK-based GP ‘detained by Israel’ after joining Gaza-bound aid flotilla
Scottish doctors have raised concerns for a GP colleague believed to have been detained by Israeli forces as part of a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza.
Dr Ili Suhaimi, a GP who works at a Glasgow practice but who is originally from Malaysia, said she was detained by the Israeli military while attempting to deliver aid, in a pre-recorded message posted on Instagram this morning.
In the video posted by MyCARE, a Malaysian organisation affiliated with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Dr Suhaimi said: ‘If you are watching this video, it means that we have been unlawfully detained by the Israeli occupational force, we have been attacked by the Zionist regime in international waters and are currently being subjected to unlawful detention.
‘Through this message, I urgently appeal to the Government of Malaysia and governments all over the world take immediate action to secure our release our safety and ensure our safe return home.’
A post uploaded an hour before that message had said their vessel Conscience was 140 nautical miles (161 miles) from Gaza.
Dr Paul McNamara, who is a GP colleague in Glasgow, said: ‘Dr Suhaimi is a well-respected NHS doctor, known for her compassion and her commitment to humanitarian work.
‘Many colleagues across Scotland’s medical community are profoundly worried for her safety and wellbeing.’
Dr Suhaimi registered with the GMC in 2015, and works at the Vale of Leven Hospital in West Dunbartonshire as well as a Glasgow GP practice.
In August, almost 1,500 GPs signed a petition from UK primary care professionals calling for the RCGP to take ‘action on the Gaza child health crisis’.
That same month, two retired GPs were among at least 13 health workers arrested at protests against the proscription of the group Palestine Action on in London.
The group formed a ‘health block’ at the protest in Parliament Square to draw attention to attacks on health workers in Gaza.
It is estimated that over 1,500 health workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, which the UN Human Rights office has ‘condemned’.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it would not comment on individuals involved but said the flotilla is being processed by the Israeli authorities.
A spokesperson told Pulse: ‘We are supporting the families of a number of British nationals who have been detained in Israel and we are in touch with the local authorities.’
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Please note, only GPs are permitted to add comments to articles
Brave, hope she returns safely.
Makes my skin crawl that on 11 Sept 2025, Kier Starmer “reaffirmed that the UK and Israel were longstanding allies” – why reaffirm this with a country staving children and committing war crimes?
What did she think was going to happen by taking part in the flotilla? She knew exactly what would happen. Publicity stunt. She would be better spending her time encouraging the Hamas murderers to release the hostages they haven’t murdered yet.
I hope she’s not asking for any sympathy.
can this be put on her CRB- DBS check for rest of her life?
Prospective employers/ PCN Directors should have a right to know who they are employing in future
I value the long tradition of humanitarian philosophy and peaceful action and wish her safe return.
I am surprised she was expecting anything else at all with this stunt she is pulling. she has appealed to Malaysia to help her . hopefully they can take this further. It might be a reminder for anyone else to go through the right channels rather the copying the Thumbergs of the world.
World doctors, including BMA, RCGP, should implore HM Govt. more about the horrors done to
the innocents ( who are the majority population I expect) of Gaza, and who just want Peace on Earth
and a chance to live a quiet life with their families. Humanitarian work, unpaid I suppose, should be applauded,
and peaceful protests that do not support proscribed groups like Palestine Action; have you seen the videos of
vicious vandalism done by P A online? She could consider working fulltime basis like some doctors in Gaza depending
on where her heart goes?
No I don’t think she was suprised Israel would illegal pirate their ship that contains baby formula in international water, a brave attempt nonetheless, at least someone is trying to do something.
All the hostages should be released but please don’t forget about the 67000 people dead in Gaza, (many more still under rubbles as there is no working heavy machinary) and almost 200,000 injured with many who lost their limbs. Almost 20,000 children have been killed and 2 million people are being starved. As doctors, we should be empathetic to sufferings of all.
Very insenstive comment, unfortnately.
Please elaborate the ‘right channels’ when even UN is not able to work. International aid agencies and UN have declared that there is genocide, starvation and war crimes committed in Gaza.
Our colleagues, Doctors, Nurses, and hospital staff, are being deliberately targeted and tortured and murdered by the IDF, and now they are acting as pirates in international waters. IDF are responsible for many thousands of deaths. There are not many Israeli hostages left in Hamas hands because they have released so many already, and the remaining ones appear to be the only bargaining chip left, after the rest of the world abandoned their duty to protect Palestinians from genocide and oppression by the IDF. More of us should be volunteering to go out there to work with the needy and injured civilians – that is what we trained for.
Surprised to see comments allowed for this article given the hugely divisive issue of Gaza, especially since comments were disabled for previous articles, especially around BMA Gaza motions.
I sincerely hope this comment section doesn’t descend into a partisan punch up over such a sensitive issue.
Let’s just hope those with the power and influence can bring peace, not just to Gaza, but to Ukraine, Syria, Sudan and all the other tragic hotspots where real people suffer the horrific consequences of incompetent intransigent squabbling leaders on both sides.
We need REFORM to ensure that those who spread hatred under the guise of religion are held accountable and face appropriate consequences for their actions.
Brave and courageous. I see the bots for Israel are in action as usual.
A lot of posts are being removed from this thread.
I hope this is acceptable to say; a lot of people, including doctors, have a great deal of concern about the level of hatred being exhibited on some of the protest marches. The narrative that has taken hold in large parts of our communities seems to ignore one of the largest terrorist attacks 2 years ago.
Not all of us will be supportive of actions like this doctor, or the article( now removed?) about a doctor planning to protest in support of Palestine action. I hope our voices can also be heard.
So right David, we have to be sorry we didn’t do enough in time to save the 1,500 healthcare workers that have been killed in the last 2 year (MSF’s figures)
As healthcare workers, we no longer feel protected by the international laws meant to safeguard us. The sanctity of our role in war is gone
I am so worried about Dr
I am so worried about this UK based doctor when I heard about this. It is an affront to all that is good and peaceful. The lack of updates about her and the fellow humanitarians from Malaysia who have been abducted from International waters is very troubling. I pray for their safety and immediate release. The International community need to stop providing cover for these crimes against humanity.
Interesting gossip @dave.haddock. But according to Govt’s own data 2024, demographics of persons arrested for terrorism-related activities – 48% white, 67% British – which, if the picture you paint is realistic, means there must be a lot of white British Islamists out do harm 🙄, tut tut Dave.
Follow the data at
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/operation-of-police-powers-under-tact-2000-to-september-2024/operation-of-police-powers-under-the-terrorism-act-2000-and-subsequent-legislation-arrests-outcomes-and-stop-and-search-great-britain-quarterly-u
By the way, in these difficult times, the writings of Noam Chomsky, Ilan Pappé and Rashid Khalidi, and others as well as B’Tselem shine a light and a torch…
To my Jewish and Palestinian friends – Shalom aleichem and Salam alaikum
(censored)
Don’t believe in censoring comments, even if one disagrees with them, unless they’re criminal or incite hate/violence. But Dave H your comments were off topic and could have been read as Islamophobic, so not surprised you got reported by some readers. Personally I like a good argument and I prefer that opinions that we disagree with are openly challenged by reasoned debate or satire, if you like. So why don’t you re-post a comment containing the nub of the point you intended to make (as long as it’s not again irrelevant or hateful etc)? Can you do that?
I pray she and all those who took part in the flotilla make it back safely to their families, thank you for showing humanity, care and compassion for one another still exists.
In the video posted by MyCARE, a Malaysian organisation affiliated with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Dr Suhaimi said: ‘If you are watching this video, it means that we have been unlawfully detained by the Israeli occupational force, we have been attacked by the Zionist regime in international waters and are currently being subjected to unlawful detention.
she has committed no crime
Why should it be on her dbs
The nhs should love to have such a humanitarian working for them
She’ll be on the right side of history
What did she think was going to happen by taking part in the flotilla? She knew exactly what would happen. Publicity stunt.
@Shapiro >>> yes Israel wants to blindfold every ones eyes >> hence the killing of press journalism
no publicity of the genocide