Scottish Labour backs Gaza immediate ceasefire motion after MSPs calls for 'unequivocal' support
dailyrecord.co.ukScottish Labour delegates have backed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after party MSPs called for “unequivocal” support.
The party’s conference held in Glasgow unanimously backed Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s calls for an immediate end to the Israel-Hamas conflict.It comes as the two Scottish Labour MPs face growing pressure to back a ceasefire vote being held by Westminster next week, with SNP MPs urging Mr Sarwar to whip Michael Shanks and Ian Murray to side with the SNP.The motion passed by the party’s conference passed unopposed and urges an end to rocket fire into and out of Gaza, the unconditional release of hostages taken by Hamas, the restoration of essential supplies and a pathway to peace.However, it also condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 2023 and noted Israel’s right to protect its citizens.
But the motion said there was “no justification for the collective punishment of 2.2 million citizens in Gaza”.The conflict was debated during the second day of the Scottish Labour conference, with Neil Bibby, the party’s constitution spokesman, urging delegates to back the motion ahead of the vote.He said: “We believe every life matters, here in Scotland and in Ukraine, Gaza and in Israel.
Every state, including Israel, has the right to defend itself and its people, not least from indiscriminate terrorist attacks.“The remaining hostages taken on October 7 must be released by Hamas.
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