Today the Scottish Parliament has backed a motion calling for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza”.
It follows a similar vote in the Senedd earlier this month when Welsh politicians supported a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Responding to the news, Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “The voices calling for an immediate ceasefire are growing ever louder and will only be silenced when the guns and the bombs are silenced.
“The Parliaments in Scotland and Wales have commendably chosen to stand on the right side of history with, in some cases, politicians voting in direct defiance of their party’s Westminster leader. We thank those Members of the Scottish Parliament who today backed an immediate ceasefire for their moral courage, and for their powerful speeches.
“In stark contrast, the positions of both the UK Government, as well as the UK Parliament – which voted down a ceasefire motion – appear increasingly isolated and untenable. An immediate and lasting ceasefire is the only credible solution; and the refusal of political leaders in Westminster to back it is a failure of conscience. Today the Scottish Parlaiment has spoken: not in our name.
“When more than 5,000 children have already been killed, when innocent civilians face being starved to death, and when the lives of Israeli hostages are potentially on the line, there can be no bystanders.
“We condemn the brutal violence against Israeli civilians on 7th October. But it is clear that if Israel is allowed to continue its disproportionate military campaign without meeting its legal responsibilities toward protecting and provisioning civilians, the whole of Gaza is being collectively punished and handed a death sentence.”
Oxfam is calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages without conditions and full access for the delivery of humanitarian aid via both Israel and Egypt.
/ENDS
For more information please contact: Rebecca Lozza, Oxfam Media and Communications Adviser, Scotland and Wales: rlozza1@oxfam.org.uk / 07917738450