First Minister comments on latest situation in Gaza

First Minister John Swinney’s speech on Gaza

Commenting on news that Israel has begun a ground offensive in Gaza City, First Minister John Swinney said:

This latest action by Israel is an outrageous and unacceptable escalation, which must be a further wake-up call to the international community. We must see serious action to hold Israel to account for this unjustifiable brutality and inhumanity.

Let us be clear in what the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will cause today. More innocent Palestinians are going to die, what was already an intolerable level of human suffering will get worse, and we are getting even further away from securing a peace.

I have made clear our grave concerns that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide and today’s offensive is only going to intensify the suffering we are seeing.

The international community cannot look away from this – there must be a concerted global effort to put a stop to Israel’s action, secure a ceasefire and hold Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government to account.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer needs to recall the UK Parliament immediately so the toughest and most severe sanctions available can be imposed on Israel, and all UK arms sales to Israel ended.

Every ounce of international influence the UK may have must be used towards putting an end to Israel’s assault.