Scots travel vlogger killed in West Bank after online posts criticising Israeli regime
A Scottish travel vlogger has been killed in the West Bank after sharing a series of online posts criticising the Israeli regime.
Emma Witters, 57, had been solo travelling through Palestine as she shared what she described as the "horrors of Gaza" on her YouTube channel.
The mother-of-two, from Hawick, moved to the US 22 years ago and has visited hundreds of countries for work before she began documenting life in the region since around February this year.
In recent months, she had posted a number of online clips from the camps of the West Bank, labelling Hebron as an "Apartheid City" as she told the stories of the civilians who live there.
Posts on her social media channel stopped eight days ago and news of her death emerged on TikTok on Tuesday.
Emma 's family members, Steve, Alice and Charlotte Witters - understood to be her husband and daughters - changed their profile pictures to photos of her in tribute as shocked friends filled their comment sections with kind words.
Kenzie Cortsen wrote: "I'm so sorry for your loss. Thinking about you guys."
Kathy Ann Sirico said: "I am so sorry for you and your girls' loss."
Lisa Lizardi Lipedusi added: "I'm so incredibly sorry to see this post. My deepest condolences to you (Steve), Charlotte and Alice."
Tributes also flooded in from her hometown of Hawick.
Jordan Richardson said: "Rest easy, Emma Witters. One of the craziest women I've met, but the nicest kindest soul ever. You will be a big miss to us all, my thoughts are with your family at this devastating time."
Callum Farries said: "Very sad news today of the passing of Emma Witters. A great human being who loved travelling and vlogging her travels and amazing stories to tell indeed. I don't know the ins and outs, but fly high, darling."
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