Honley woman Paveen Yaqub leaves Israel’s Be’er Sheva prison

Jun 3 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE nightmare is over.

Honley’s Paveen Yaqub is believed to have been among a group of activists aboard a coach which left Israel’s Be’er Sheva prison yesterday afternoon.

And the 39-year-old, seized in the Gaza flotilla raid by Israeli troops, is expected to be reunited with her family today.

Younger sister Nosheen told the Examiner the family are “relieved” after hearing Paveen’s voice in a short call she was allowed to make home from prison.

Nosheen said: “My brother spoke to her on the phone.

“She said she was safe and hoping to be home depending on the Israeli government going through its process.

“I wouldn’t say she was in good spirits, the line was very bad.

“It was just a short call and she said she was safe and well.

“She said she would ring again as soon as she knew.”

Thirty-seven Britons were seized during the raid on an aid flotilla in international waters. Some were released and “deported” yesterday after the Israeli government decided not to prosecute any of the activists.

In total, 679 people were taken prisoner during the Israeli military-led action which saw nine civilians killed after naval commandos stormed an aid convoy bound for Gaza.