PRO-PALESTINE protesters have climbed on top of the Scottish Parliament.
The activists were seen on top of the building on Thursday morning flying a Palestinian flag and a banner saying "stop arming Israel".
It comes ahead of First Minister's Questions today, with Humza Yousaf set to face opposition leaders.
The group said they are not part of an organisation.
As reporters shouted questions, one member, who all have their faces covered, said: “We’re here to put pressure on the Scottish Government to take action against arms exports to Israel.”
Pro-Palestine protesters on the Scottish Parliament pergola. pic.twitter.com/X1bIJbydtM
— Colin Mackay (@STVColin) November 9, 2023
Scottish Labour MSP Katy Clark has also lodged a motion calling on the Parliament to express its concern at reports of the "ongoing sale and export of arms from the UK to Israel, in light of what it sees as the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza".
UK government statistics, compiled by Campaign Against Arms Trade, show that in the last 10 years the UK has licensed at least £486 million worth of arms to Israel.
The motion went on to acknowledges calls by campaigners for the UK Government to suspend arms sales to Israel pending a review into whether any have led to civilian casualties.
Five arms companies with a presence in Scotland applied for export licences to sell arms to Israel, with the Ferret also reporting in 2021 that these companies received £10 million through Scottish Enterprise.
The Scottish Greens have also called on a halt to arms sales to Israel.
Scottish Greens external affairs spokesperson, Ross Greer (below) MSP, said: “The bombardment of Gaza has already killed thousands of Palestinian children and caused immense suffering for two million people.
“It is collective punishment, a war crime committed in full view of the world. Palestinians are purposefully being deprived of food, water and electricity. By arming and supporting this destruction, the UK has made itself utterly complicit in the mounting death toll.
“The bombs must stop and so must the brutal seventeen-year long siege of Gaza. Palestinians cannot be made to suffer for the awful crimes of Hamas.
“If the UK Government has any care or concern for the rights and lives of Palestinians it must immediately stop all arms sales to Israel, launch a review into whether previously supplied arms were used to commit war crimes and push for an immediate ceasefire.”
A month of relentless bombardment in Gaza since the Hamas attack has killed more than 10,500 Palestinians – two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
More than 2300 are believed to have been buried by strikes that in some cases have demolished entire city blocks.
A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “Protesters have gained access to the roof and unfurled a banner. Police Scotland are in attendance. There is no disruption to parliament business and public access to the building is unaffected.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We’re aware of the protest and officers are in attendance.”
