The Scottish Parliament has backed a Government motion calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in the conflict, as well as condemning the “barbaric and unjustifiable” Hamas attacks of October 7 and demanding the release of all hostages taken.
A Labour amendment calling for the International Criminal Court to investigate the conduct of all parties in the conflict was also agreed.
A Conservative amendment calling for humanitarian pauses instead of an immediate ceasefire was voted down.
@scotnational BREAKING: Big news from Scotland tonight, as the Parliament backs a ceasefire in Gaza – all parties, besides the Tories, supported it #scotland #gaza #palestine #CeaseFireNow #fyp ♬ original sound – The National
A total of 90 MSPs voted for the amended Government motion while 28 – all Tories – voted against it. There were 11 MSPs not present for the vote.
It means the Scottish Parliament joins parliaments in Wales, Ireland and Catalonia in calling for a ceasefire.
Labour deciding to support the Government’s call for a ceasefire stood in stark contrast to that of the party’s MPs at Westminster last week, with Michael Shanks and Ian Murray both having backed Keir Starmer’s call for humanitarian pauses.
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The quality of debate and discussion was praised across the chamber, with MSPs from every party delivering powerful words on the atrocities occurring in the Middle East.
MSPs Keith Brown and Ivan McKee fiercely defended the right of the Parliament to speak about the conflict and call for a ceasefire, hitting out at those who have insisted it will make no difference and calling them “a council of despair”.
First Minister Humza Yousaf (below) led the debate with a powerful opening speech referencing the moment he woke up on October 7 to messages from his mother-in-law in Gaza, stressing “the fear in her voice was palpable.”
He also talked about his brother-in-law who is a doctor out in Gaza. He said medical staff have been forced into practicing “medieval medicine”, including amputating limbs and sometimes performing caesarean sections without appropriate anaesthetic.
He went on to say: “The life of a Palestinian is worth no less than the life of an Israeli, and vice versa.
“One of the oldest lies ever told in war is that people can be collateral damage. Babies are not collateral damage. Children are not collateral damage. The elderly are not collateral damage. They are human beings, they deserve to live, they deserve to grow old.
“Israel has a right to protect its citizens from terror, but no country has the right to ignore international humanitarian law.
“The Scottish Government’s position has remained consistent. An immediate ceasefire is needed to ensure the protection of innocent civilians and the delivery of essential supplies.”
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As he stressed we must “strive for better” than humanitarian pauses, he added: “For the sake of the people of Gaza, and for the Israeli hostages, this Parliament and the international community must unite in calling for an immediate ceasefire.
“Every child deserves to grow old. Let us hope that even in these darkest times that humanity prevails.”
Yousaf also stressed that the UK Government should be recognising the state of Palestine after he wrote to both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer calling for them to do so.
Tory MSP Donald Cameron in his remarks blasted the Scottish Parliament for not raising the Israeli flag in solidarity with the country following the October 7 attacks and went on to say he did not believe a ceasefire would work at this stage.
His colleague Sandesh Gulhane added: “Calling for an immediate ceasefire is setting ourselves up to fail.”
Labour leader Anas Sarwar, despite not asking his MPs to vote for a ceasefire at Westminster last week, decided to stand with the Government at Holyrood.
Sarwar (below) spoke about how he had been affected by a visit to Gaza in 2008 when he saw life-saving work going on at the Al-Shifa hospital.
He went on: “At times it has felt like humanity is dying before our very eyes. Scottish Labour will be voting for an immediate ceasefire.
“The full force of international diplomacy must be used to make a ceasefire a reality.
“Our amendment today calls for the International Criminal Court to investigate the actions of all sides in this conflict. Everyone’s actions must be judged.
“There is no military solution to this conflict.
“By calling for a ceasefire today, I hope this is a gamechanger in this decades-long conflict.
“I think it’s important to recognise that while this is a conflict in another part of the world, it has caused heightened tensions at home. Let me be unequivocal and clear, there is no place in our society for any form of prejudice and hate.”
SNP MSP for Glasgow Kelvin Kaukab Stewart criticised the lack of leadership shown by the the two main parties at Westminster on the Gaza issue as she highlighted 5500 children had been killed in Gaza – roughly the number of babies born in Glasgow in an entire year.
Other powerful moments in the debate came when Tory MSP Meghan Gallacher spent a full five minutes reading out the names of the 200-plus people taken hostage by Hamas.
Labour’s Pauline McNeil also spoke of a Palestinian surgeon operating on his child – who died – without pain relief.
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One of the people watching the debate from the public gallery at Holyrood was Dr Ibrahim Khadra from Strathclyde University’s Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences.
Yousaf mentioned he had said 70 members of his extended family had been killed in the Gaza attacks.
In closing the debate, External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Anas Sarwar was right to call for a ceasefire today, just as it was right last week and the week before that. Alex Cole-Hamilton was right to promote consensus when we can. Ross Greer was right to stress that all human life is equal.
“We’ve heard some very powerful speeches.
“May I call on all members of the international community, including the UK Government, to do everything it can to protect against violations of international law and to facilitate the political solution needed to bring peace, security and stability to the region.”
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
