POLITICIANS in Scotland have described the latest round of strikes undertaken by Israel on Gaza as "nothing less than a massacre".
Israel has killed more than 413 people across Gaza in strikes ordered by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu overnight. The number of those killed is being regularly updated.
Netanyahu – who is wanted for arrest by the International Criminal Court for war crimes – said he ordered the strikes because of a lack of progress in talks to extend the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Officials said the operation was open-ended and was expected to expand.
The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel’s actions.
First Minister John Swinney said: "The renewed suffering we are seeing in Gaza is completely unacceptable. We cannot allow more innocent lives to be lost.
"Israel must stop the bombing and the ceasefire must be restored immediately as we work towards a lasting peace."
His party reiterated his statement, and said that both swift condemnation and "real consequences" must be enforced on the Israeli Government for their overnight bombardment. SNP Middle East spokesperson Brendan O’Hara MP said: “In the past week the Israeli Government has broken international law and they have now chosen to breach an already fragile ceasefire – dropping bombs on a civilian population in the ruins of Gaza. “It is clearer by the day that condemnation isn’t enough - the Israeli government will only listen if they face real consequences from the international community for breaking this ceasefire and breaking international law. "Because ultimately this is what impunity looks like - the international community's consistent failure to act allows the Israeli Government the freedom to bomb without consequence and sanction. “The people of Gaza are desperately struggling to rebuild their lives in the rubble that has been left to them – they are once again being asked to live with the threat of more bombs raining down on them whenever the Netanyahu government decides."
O’Hara also said the broader context of the bombardment is "crucial". Attempts to reach a truce in Ukraine mean "a clear message must be sent that those who choose to breach ceasefires will face consequences," he added.
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie called for the UK Government to end its complicity in genocide and finally halt arms sales to Israel.
“Under the terms of the ceasefire deal, Israel should have been withdrawing from Gaza by now, but instead they have violated the ceasefire by carrying out nothing less than a massacre," Harvie said.
“The scale of horror that Israel is inflicting must serve as a wake-up call to our governments to end their role in genocide, and hold the Israeli Government to account for its war crimes.
He added: “Continuing to arm and support Israel can only lead to further destruction and even more lost lives. It is civilians who are paying the devastating cost of collective punishment, mass displacement and the destruction of schools, hospitals and homes.
“With a Trump administration that doesn’t even pretend to care about Palestinian rights, the Israeli Government is clearly feeling empowered and knows that they will face no consequences.
“We cannot allow this to continue any longer. There is a moral obligation on all governments to stop arming Israel and instead hold them accountable for their actions.”
Harvie also called for the Scottish Government to stop all financial support for companies who are profiting from the war, after reports Scottish Enterprise has given more than £1 million to organisations that arm Israel since the start of the war.
“The Scottish Government has rightly condemned UK complicity, but time and again it has refused to end support for the companies who are enabling and profiting from the killing. It is time for them to put their money where their mouth is and end their hypocrisy.”
Former first minister Humza Yousaf posted a video on social media condemning the attacks, and said: "The question isn't 'why do you keep talking about Gaza', the real question is how do you continue to justify your silence?
The question isn't "Why do you keep talking about Gaza", the real question is how do you continue to justify your silence? As children in Gaza continue to be killed by Israel, the least we can do is bear witness to the crimes committed against them. Your silence is complicity. pic.twitter.com/Zw3Qr2mZq1
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) March 18, 2025
"As children in Gaza continue to be killed by Israel, the least we can do is bear witness to the crimes committed against them. Your silence is complicity."
