Extracts from Scottish Parliament questions: Constitution, External Affairs and Culture - Dec 6

Palestine (Humanitarian Aid)

2. Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the impact of its funding for humanitarian aid to Palestine. (S6O-02831)

The Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development (Christina McKelvie)

We are gravely concerned by the resumption in hostilities over the weekend and reiterate our call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages and unfettered access for humanitarian aid for all civilians throughout the Gaza strip. In October, the Scottish Government acted quickly to commit £500,000 in response to the United Nations flash appeal for Gaza. Last month, we pledged a further £250,000 contribution to that appeal. Those funds will be used to respond to the immediate food, health, shelter and protection needs of people who are seeking safety in UN shelters, with special consideration for the needs of particularly vulnerable groups including women, children, people with disabilities and the elderly.

Marie McNair

Although the support for humanitarian aid is welcome, what is essential to save the many children and innocent civilians who are being killed is an immediate ceasefire. Medical Aid for Palestinians says that the bombardment is making it impossible to sustain human life in Gaza, and it calls on our political leaders to heed the call from 36 human rights experts and take action to prevent genocide against the Palestinian people. Does the minister agree that Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer need to stop prevaricating and demand an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to this massacre?

Christina McKelvie

In a letter to the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition on 21 November asking for the United Kingdom Government to support a ceasefire on both sides, the First Minister wrote:

“The support the UK Government has given to Israel while the devastation in Gaza has grown, increases the moral responsibility on it to use whatever influence it has to stop the killing now.”

We again urge both leaders to join the United Nations secretary general and others in the international community in calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire on both sides to stop the killing of innocent men, women and children and for unimpeded access for humanitarian aid into all areas of Gaza.

Middle East Situation (Humanitarian Response)

5. Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab)

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the vote on motion S6M-11342 on the situation in the middle east, on 21 November, whether it will provide an update on what action it has taken with the United Kingdom Government and international bodies to support the humanitarian response. (S6O-02834)

The Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development (Christina McKelvie)

The Scottish Government has been in continuous discussion with the United Kingdom Government on this matter. We welcome the additional £60 million that has been committed by the UK Government for the humanitarian response in Gaza, which Scottish taxpayers have, of course, contributed to.

The Scottish Government has committed £750,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and, on 2 November, the First Minister and I met its European director to discuss the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Officials have also consulted various United Nations agencies and international humanitarian organisations that operate under Scotland’s humanitarian emergency fund, whose representatives I will meet in early January.

Richard Leonard

We are witnessing before our eyes what experts fear to be an unfolding genocide of the Palestinian people. The death toll defies description. Thousands more are still missing under the rubble of a quarter of a million destroyed buildings. Nowhere is safe. The population has been forced to flee to the south of Gaza only to be bombed when they get there. It is unthinkable that we are witnessing this, and it is unconscionable that we should be a participant. We welcome the aid that is provided by the Scottish Government, but what good is it if we are also providing public funding to arms manufacturers that supply the Israeli Government? Will the Scottish Government agree to stop that funding immediately?

Christina McKelvie

Any action taken by Israel must be in accordance with international law. The Geneva conventions must be upheld, including protecting citizens against the consequences of military action. The taking of hostages, indiscriminate bombing of civilian infrastructure, intentional starvation and forced displacement of a population are prohibited under the Geneva conventions.

I urge all people to get around the table and bring about a quick resolution, with a ceasefire and humanitarian aid being allowed into the areas.

Kaukab Stewart (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)

We hear dire warnings from UN officials on the ground in Gaza about the scale of the humanitarian disaster that is unfolding. Does the minister agree that, in order to prevent further deaths, it remains urgent that the international community works together to press for an urgent ceasefire? Can she provide any further update on the Scottish Government’s latest engagement with the UK Government in that regard?

Christina McKelvie

I said in an earlier answer that, on 21 November, the First Minister wrote to the Prime Minister calling for the UK to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to ask the International Criminal Court to investigate whether war crimes have been committed by Israel and Hamas, and for the UK to recognise the state of Palestine. A junior Foreign Office minister replied, restating the UK Government’s position in favour of temporary humanitarian pauses. They did not address the First Minister’s other two calls.

We are gravely concerned by the resumption of hostilities and continue to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire on both sides and a release of all hostages.

Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)

Does the minister agree that the approach should be the one that was taken by my colleague Layla Moran MP at Westminster, who stated that we need a two-state solution?

We recently saw a pause in fighting, which shows that it is possible to have such a pause. We now need to see it replicated as a basis for the creation of a permanent bilateral ceasefire. Will the minister impress on the UK Government the importance of action to make that a reality?

Christina McKelvie

I am happy to impress that position on the UK Government. The Scottish Government supports the European Union and UK Government positions of a two-state solution, based on the 1967 borders. It firmly encourages both Israel and Palestine to reach a sustainable, negotiated settlement under international law, which has, as its foundation, mutual recognition and the determination to co-exist peacefully. The recent pause was an example of how we can do that.