Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 03 September 2025
03 Sep 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Palestine
Ivan McKee pre-empted what I was about to say. The world was outraged at that atrocity, and most people supported Israel’s right to defend itself. After all, the safety of a country and its people is the first duty of any government. In acknowledging Israel’s right to attempt to retrieve its citizens and supporting its right to defend itself, the world asked for restraint. We asked for the Israeli Government to protect the innocent. Netanyahu has pursued a war that in no way protects the citizens of Gaza. Hamas may have committed the most brutal of atrocities, but one atrocity does not justify another. Netanyahu must be held to account.
However, as I raised with the First Minister, what I cannot get my head around is why supplies are not getting through to the people who desperately need them. There is no shortage, after all. Both sides might blame each other, but there is no doubt in my mind that Hamas is intercepting supplies where it can and is diverting them. Because of its actions, we can safely surmise that it cares little for the Palestinian people.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-18686, in the name of Angus Robertson, on Palestine. 15:39
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson)
SNP
The Scottish Government has, since the start of the conflict, repeatedly called for a ceasefire and for the unfettered flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. We...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
Does the cabinet secretary recognise, as I do, that the evidence for the continuing outrages perpetrated by the Netanyahu Government have prompted former Lik...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I agree with the intervention that Alex Cole-Hamilton has described; it is one of a number of interventions that point to the facts that we can all see. They...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Is the minister familiar with the case of Palestinian Awdah Hathaleen, who was shot dead in the West Bank only a few weeks ago? Does he agree that, under thi...
Angus Robertson
SNP
The case that Pauline McNeill raises is shocking. What is perhaps more shocking is that it is not isolated. Unfortunately, two-tier justice or non-existent j...
Jackson Carlaw (Eastwood) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for the expression of that sentiment. He will know about the extraordinary efforts that have been entered into here in Scotland...
Angus Robertson
SNP
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...
Jackson Carlaw (Eastwood) (Con)
Con
The Scottish Conservatives are open to supporting the motion that is before the Parliament today. It has been quite carefully drafted; one can add different ...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
Jackson Carlaw talks about the right of the Israeli state to act. Does he agree that, given that it is an occupying force, it has responsibilities under inte...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I agree with the substance of Ms Chapman’s point and I will return to it.
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I simply want to assure Jackson Carlaw that, every time I have written about this, which I have done often, I have made it plain that Hamas’s actions were at...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
Unfortunately, that is not necessarily generally and commonly the case. In fact, we talk about Hamas’s atrocity in Israel, not Gaza’s atrocity in Israel. The...
The Minister for Public Finance (Ivan McKee)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I will have to make some progress, but I will be closing for our side, and I will take as many questions as I can at that point, as I have no written remarks...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I rise to move the amendment in my name and make clear that the Government’s unamended motion is also in our name: we support the immediate recognition of th...
Humza Yousaf (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Neil Bibby for his contribution so far. I also welcome Anas Sarwar’s statement that a genocide is taking place. David Lammy called it a moral outrage...
Neil Bibby
Lab
I respect Mr Yousaf’s passion and his campaigning on the issue. He will be aware that the UK Government has restricted arms sales, and we have called for the...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I welcome this opportunity for Parliament to endorse the recognition of Palestine. It is more than 50 years since the United Nations recognised the right of ...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am grateful to the Scottish Government for making time for this very important debate. The debate takes place against the backdrop of immense humanitarian ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Mr Cole-Hamilton, you need to conclude.
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
The road to peace is long, and it will not be easy, but recognition of a Palestinian state is an essential step along it.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you, Mr Cole-Hamilton. We move to the open debate, with back-bench speeches of up to four minutes. 16:15
Paul McLennan (East Lothian) (SNP)
SNP
On Saturday morning, I attended a Gaza protest in Haddington, in my constituency, where around 200 people were present. Last night, I was at another event in...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I have said in this chamber before that, when we take away the issues that we create to divide us, such as colour, creed, religion and sexual orientation, pe...
Ivan McKee
SNP
We all share the member’s reflections on the events of 7 October—the First Minister has been very clear about that in his statement—but does Brian Whittle be...
Brian Whittle
Con
Ivan McKee pre-empted what I was about to say. The world was outraged at that atrocity, and most people supported Israel’s right to defend itself. After all,...
Maggie Chapman
Green
Will the member take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The member is concluding.
Brian Whittle
Con
My question is: where is the UN in all this? It cannot be outwith its ability to ensure that supplies get to where they are needed. It has shown itself to be...