MORE than 450 people and organisations, including 20 MPs, have signed an open letter demanding that Israel stop impounding a fire engine donated to Palestinian firefighters.

Fire Brigades Union (FBU) members in Scotland donated the vehicle last year, with support from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Scottish government and the STUC.

The appliance, packed with firefighting kit, equipment and medical supplies, had been destined for Nablus in the West Bank, but it was seized at the Israeli port of Ashdod last July by Israeli customs officers, who have demanded that it be sent back for being a right-hand-drive vehicle.

FBU pleas to the Israeli embassy in London and protests there in November have so far proven fruitless, but the union, along with Unison comrades, hope that the surge of support for their open letter may encourage the Labour government to act, putting more pressure on Israel.

The letter called for the fire engine’s immediate and safe release so that it “can be used for its intended purpose — to help firefighters in Palestine save lives.”

Among the signatories is Labour MP Brian Leishman, representing Alloa and Grangemouth, who called the impounding “beyond cruel.”

Independent MP for Islington North Jeremy Corbyn told the Morning Star: “Our firefighters show global humanity and solidarity.

“Israeli illegal occupation includes denying Palestinian people even the ability to extinguish fires. 

“They will never extinguish our solidarity and empathy.”

FBU Palestine co-ordinator Jim Malone told the Star: “It is appalling that the Israeli authorities have acted to deprive Palestinian firefighters of a life-saving appliance donated to them.

“We sent two appliances over in 2011 and, working alongside the International Fire and Rescue Resource Centre in Fife, we have had numerous crew over to be trained.

“They never made it easy, but impounding it because it is right-hand drive isn’t just a nonsense — we had planned to convert it there — it’s obscene, even more so when the real reason is well known.

“They don’t want right-hand drive because it interferes with the fixed-line-of-fire apparatus at the checkpoints they force even emergency vehicles through.

“In other words, they have impounded a fire appliance because their checkpoints might not have a clear shot at the driver.

“That’s the reality for Palestinians, the reality for their firefighters, and that’s why their attitude, their fearlessness, their strength should be a example to us all.”

Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary said: “Firefighting is a humanitarian profession, and the Fire Brigades Union has a long history of standing with those saving lives in Palestine.

“Firefighters in Scotland donated a fire engine with firefighting supplies to be delivered to Nablus over nine months ago. It is disgraceful that this life-saving equipment has been held by Israeli customs since August, while firefighters in the occupied West Bank are in urgent need of resources.

“Alongside twenty MPs, the FBU continues to call on the UK government to ensure that Israeli authorities release the donated fire engine immediately.”

The Israeli government was contacted for comment.