UK GOVERNMENT MUST END ARMS SALES & RECOGNISE PALESTINE
Gordon Macdonald MSP has echoed First Minister John Swinney’s powerful statement on Palestine, urging the UK Government to take immediate action and outlining the action that the SNP will take with the powers Scotland has.
The genocide in Palestine has already claimed more than 63,000 lives. Famine is spreading throughout a ruined Gaza. While the Palestinian flag was raised at St Andrew’s House the First Minister set out Scotland’s humanitarian response and demanded action from Starmer’s government.
The SNP is demanding that the Labour UK government:
- Immediately recognise the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders.
- End all arms sales to Israel and withdraw from the UK-Israel Free Trade Agreement
- Impose sanctions on members of the Israeli government complicit in war crimes and illegal settlements
- Ban imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements, following Ireland’s lead
- Support international justice, including backing South Africa’s case at the ICJ and implementing ICC arrest warrants.
The actions that will be taken by the SNP Scottish Government include:
- Trade and arms restrictions: New public funding will be paused for arms companies whose products are linked to states accused of genocide, including Israel. Any defence companies seeking support from the Scottish Government must prove that they are not supplying the Israeli military.
- Medical support for children: Scotland will provide treatment for up to 20 injured children from Gaza, who will arrive with their families to Scotland from mid-September.
- Support for students: working with universities to ensure Gazan students can attend Scottish universities if offered a place.
- Justice and accountability: exploring how Scotland’s legal community, universities, and civil society can contribute to preserving evidence for international criminal cases.
Commenting, Gordon Macdonald MSP said: “Scotland will not stand by while genocide unfolds before our eyes. The SNP is ensuring that Scotland stands with Palestine by delivering real action.
“We’re sending humanitarian aid, treating injured children, supporting students, and halting public funding for companies linked to Israel’s war machine.”
“The Labour UK government must recognise the State of Palestine, end arms sales to Israel, and impose sanctions on Israeli war criminals. Anything less is a betrayal of international law and of basic human decency.
“The people of Scotland expect their leaders to speak out for justice and humanity. The SNP will always stand for peace, for dignity, and for a future where every life is valued equally.”
Support for defence companies involved in Israel halted
“In the face of genocide, there can be no ‘business as usual’” – First Minister
New awards of public money to defence companies involved with Israel will be halted, First Minister John Swinney announced yesterday as he set out a package of new economic, humanitarian and diplomatic measures in response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
As the death toll in Gaza passes 63,000, the First Minister reiterated his concern at genocide unfolding in Gaza. He set out a package of measures including:
- New awards of public money will be paused to defence companies whose products or services are provided to countries where there is plausible evidence of genocide being committed by that country, including Israel.
- Instructing relevant delivery bodies such as Scottish Enterprise where possible to not provide support for trade between Scotland and Israel.
- £400,000 to Kids Operating Room to establish the Gaza HOPES Field Readiness Hub – a rapidly deployable hospital in Gaza to provide essential surgical, maternity and paediatric services.
- £600,000 to the UNOCHA led Humanitarian Fund for the Occupied Palestinian Territories to provide life-saving health services, food and nutrition assistance, emergency shelter, water and sanitation, protection services, education support and cash for families.
- Calling for the UK Government to recognise the State of Palestine, withdraw from the existing Free Trade Agreement with Israel, end all military cooperation with Israel while the war continues, and prohibit the import of goods produced in illegal settlements.
In light of Russia’s invasion of and continued war against Ukraine the Scottish Government will lift the restriction previously applied to the use of public support for the production of munitions.
This will not be available to companies which fail to demonstrate that their products are not involved militarily with Israel or other countries implicated in genocide.
The First Minister said: “The situation in Gaza is a man-made humanitarian catastrophe. We must confront this crisis with urgency, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to accountability.
“This Government has consistently and unequivocally condemned the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas. We have joined the international community in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
“But I share the concerns of other countries and international leaders that a genocide appears to be unfolding in Gaza. The legal determination of genocide is the responsibility of international courts. But, governments must act now.
“Defending our country – defending our continent – is a duty of government.
“Anyone watching the ongoing war in Ukraine would, I hope, recognise the reality of the importance of defence. Indeed, the invasion shows we live in a world in which our national security faces much greater and more immediate threats.
“In recognition of that changed international landscape, the Scottish Government will lift the restriction we have applied on the use of support for the production of munitions.
“But, in the face of genocide, there can be no ‘business as usual’.
“We are instructing relevant delivery bodies where possible not to provide support facilitating trade between Scotland and Israel.
“We will pause new awards of public money to defence companies whose products or services are provided to countries where there is plausible evidence of genocide being committed by that country. That will include Israel.
“Any defence company seeking support from the Scottish Government will have to demonstrate that its products are not involved militarily with Israel.
“And Scotland will directly address humanitarian need. We have a long history of helping those in desperate need and we will not be found wanting now. I can announce today that we will provide £400,000 to establish the Gaza HOPES Field Readiness Hub in Scotland.
“We will also donate £600,000 to the UNOCHA led Humanitarian Fund for the Occupied Palestinian Territories which will provide life-saving health services, food and nutrition assistance, emergency shelter, water and sanitation, protection services, education support and cash for families, ensuring aid reaches those most at risk.
“We have also committed to providing medical support for up to 20 injured children from Gaza and expect the first arrivals along with their families in mid-September.
“We are witnessing a humanitarian disaster of historic proportions. And yet, the bombs continue to fall.
“The world cannot wait for a final court ruling before acting. The signs are clear. The alarm has been raised.
“The bombs and rockets must stop. Humanitarian aid must flow.
“The international community, including the UK Government, must recognise a Palestinian state as the first step towards peace and a two-state solution. A solution where the peoples of both Israel and Palestine can live side-by-side in peace and security.
“Acknowledging that we are witnessing the signs of genocide brings with it a responsibility to act. The people of Scotland expect no less of us.
“Scotland will always raise her voice in favour of peace and humanity.”
Situation in Gaza: First Minister’s statement – gov.scot
Jewish Council of Scotland expresses concern
Response to the Scottish First Minister John Swinney’s Parliamentary Statement on the Situation in Gaza of 3rd September 2025 from Timothy Lovat, Chair, Jewish Council of Scotland
Timothy Lovat, Chair, Jewish Council of Scotland, said: “It is disappointing that despite his warm and reassuring words when we met with him and Angus Roberston on Monday, the First Minister has chosen to express a position that we are concerned will undermine the safety, security and well-being of the Jewish community in Scotland.
“We set out our concerns in writing to the First Minister‘s office yesterday and will continue to engage with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to safeguard our community’s welfare and future in Scotland.”
THE JEWISH COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND’S LETTER READS:
Letter from Jewish Council of Scotland to First Minister, in Response to Yesterday’s Statement
2nd September 2025
Dear First Minister,
Thank you for meeting representatives of the Jewish community in Scotland yesterday.
We welcome your stated commitment to the safety and well-being of our community.
You also indicated at our meeting that you planned to make an intervention tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd September, relating to your view that Israel is engaged in the commission of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
As recognised during our meeting, the language used in public discourse matters greatly. In consequence, those who lead our country and our community have an especially significant role in setting the tone of public debate, including ensuring that they use language carefully and responsibly.
In light of this shared recognition, it is important to us to bring to your attention our concerns about the implications of such a proposed intervention for us and our community.
It is indisputable that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. It is equally beyond debate that both Israel and Hamas bear responsibility for this tragic situation. For you to assert as First Minister of Scotland that Israel is engaged in a genocidal campaign against Palestinians, however, would, in our view, be irresponsible.
Ultimately, of course, only a competent court may determine whether and if so how the Genocide Convention may have been breached by Israel.
More seriously in local terms, however, while any position you or the Scottish Government might take on the matter is unlikely to have any impact on the situation in Gaza, it is likely to have significant negative implications for our community here in Scotland.
In particular, setting out a stance likely to be publicly perceived simply and without qualification as anti-Israel, without drawing any distinction between the state of Israel and its current leadership, or acknowledging the continuing culpability of Hamas, is likely to have a far greater and more immediate impact locally, fuelling “antizionist” – and antisemitic – hatred and discrimination against Scotland’s Jews and our institutions and symbols, than it is on the situation in the Middle East, let alone in Westminster.
Indeed, it would be a tragic irony were our communal institutions, including Scotland’s only Jewish primary school, required to upgrade security provision in consequence of interventions by the Scottish Government and its leadership.
Like you, the vast majority of Jews around the world are Zionists – supporters of the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in our ancestral homeland. Moreover, and again like you, our community and our institutions are committed to the realisation of a two-state solution, with a secure Israel existing alongside a viable Palestinian state.
Rather than risk increasing fear, anxiety, and trauma in our community, we would respectfully ask you to work with us to promote that vision in a principled, pragmatic, and constructive manner.
We thank you again for your engagement and for your continued commitment to the dignity and safety of all communities in Scotland.
Yours faithfully
Jewish Council of Scotland
