TWO Waltham Forest aid workers were on board a Gaza-bound ship when it was strormed by Israeli troops.

Tauqir Sharif, known as Tox, of Warwick Road, Chingford, and his friend Mohammed Abid Mahi, 31, from Walthamstow, were among 700 passengers of a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, which has been blockaded by israel for three years.

At least ten civilian activists are said to have been killed and many injured when the ships were raided by Israeli troops in international waters, sparking international condemnation of the operation.

Mr Sharif's brother, Toseef Sharif, of Prospect Hill, Walthamstow, said his parents Mohammed and Zuhda Sharif, and his four sisters, have been extremely anxious about Tauqir's safety since news broke of the deaths on Monday.

They last received a text from Tauqir on Saturday morning and were eventually told on Tuesday that he is uninjured and being held in an Israeli detention centre.

The 30-year-old plumber said: “It has been very stressful not knowing what is going on, especially with all the deaths. We want him back safe and uninjured.”

Mohammed Abid Mahi, 31, was also uninjured and is also being detained.

Mr Sharif said his brother was compelled to join the mission after taking part in the “Viva Palestina” aid convoy to Gaza in December.

The Nottingham University student has since been fund-raising for the Palestinian cause.

Mr Sharif said: “Once he delivered the aid and saw the massacre and destruction, he wanted to go again. It really affected him. When he came back he was a changed person – he was more of an adult.

“We, as a family, are very proud of him. We've been supporting him in what he is doing, so everyone is involved.

“That is why it is a shock for us and upsetting what has happened, but we know he has gone out with good intentions to help people.

Chair of Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Ellie Merton, who got to know Tauqir on the convoy last year, said she is very concerned about the two men.

She added: “We know they are safe but we don't know how well they are. We don't know where the detention centre is. We are very concerned about their welfare.”

Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the loss of life and said the British Embassy is trying to get more information from the Israeli Government and access to any UK nationals involved.‪

Israel says its soldiers were shot at and attacked with weapons, whereas activists say Israeli troops came aboard shooting.

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