Meeting of the Parliament 03 September 2025
Jackson Carlaw is as committed to his Jewish constituents as I am to mine. I represent Edinburgh’s synagogue, the central mosque and the churches of our main Christian denominations. Scotland’s Jewish community is a much-valued part of our national life, as the First Minister has made clear. I recognise—as we all do—how difficult things are for the Jewish community, not only because Hamas is still holding hostages, but because of the fears and charged emotions that exist in light of the appalling situation that is being meted out to Palestinian people. I acknowledge the Mr Carlaw’s point. We all need to be mindful of that aspect.
In drawing my contribution to a close, I highlight that the Israeli Government’s approach to delivering aid via the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has failed tragically. The Israeli authorities must immediately allow humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East—UNRWA—to complete their work unimpeded and at scale.
Since the conflict began, the Scottish Government has committed £1.3 million for Gaza and the wider middle east, including £750,000 for UNRWA and a further £550,000 for the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal, Mercy Corps and the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund—£250,000 in total was announced in November 2024 and £300,000 was announced on 22 April 2025.
The First Minister announced today that the Scottish Government will provide £400,000 of funding to Kids Operating Room to establish the Gaza HOPES field readiness hub in Scotland. That will unlock $15 million of funding to deliver a rapid-deployment field hospital in Gaza that will provide essential services. The hub, which will be based in Dundee, will also be used to support field hospital deployments in future humanitarian crises. We will also donate £600,000 to the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs-led humanitarian fund for the occupied Palestinian territories to provide life-saving health services, supplies and shelter for those who are most at risk. We have also committed to providing medical support for up to 20 injured children from Gaza. We expect the first arrivals, along with their families, in mid-September.
We face a defining moment in our lifetimes. As the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, said one month ago, we are witnessing the
“incredible, incredible destruction of an entire people”.
The international community must act, Scotland must act, and the United Kingdom Government’s special responsibility places on it the unenviable but necessary burden of leading that endeavour.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees with the recognition of the State of Palestine and that peace in the region must be pursued by all.
15:52