FIRST Minister John Swinney has told Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer they must "immediately" recognise the state of Palestine.
Swinney said the SNP would force a binding vote at Westminster after the General Election if they failed to do so.
It comes after Ireland, along with Norway and Spain, all agreed to commit to the move last week.
“Ending the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza is without a doubt one of the greatest moral issues of our time,” Swinney said.
“In generations to come, people will look back and ask what each of us with a platform did to end the suffering.”
It comes as dozens of people were killed in an Israeli strike on Rafah in which people were reported to be “burning alive”.
Aid groups said they were left “horrified” by the attack with the Israeli military saying it struck a Hamas compound and that it was carried out with “precise ammunition and on the basis of precise intelligence”.
Swinney (above) added that everybody has a responsibility to “bring about a peaceful resolution” and it is “clear that full recognition of Palestine as a state in its own right will be a huge step towards a just and durable political solution”.
He continued: “I am calling on the UK to follow the lead of Ireland, Norway and Spain by immediately recognising Palestine as a state – and if Rishi Sunak will not do it now, Keir Starmer must commit to doing so on his first day in Downing Street.
“If they both continue to refuse, the SNP will force the issue – and will bring forward a binding vote in the House of Commons at the first available opportunity after the election.
“The SNP has been Westminster’s moral compass on the conflict in Gaza – while the Tories and Labour have been guilty of the most abject moral cowardice.
“The SNP is determined that Scotland will play a positive and progressive role in international affairs – and we are clear that hostages must be released, arms sales to Israel must end, an immediate ceasefire must be put in place and Palestine must be recognised as a State in order to ensure a lasting peace.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Labour Party will work alongside international partners to recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel, as part of efforts to contribute to securing a negotiated two-state solution.”
READ JOHN SWINNEY'S FULL LETTER BELOW
Dear Rishi and Keir,
As you will know, Ireland, Norway and Spain will formally recognise the State of Palestine. I am calling on the UK to do the same.
Recognising Palestine as a state in its own right is the only way to move towards a just and durable long-term peace, in the interests of both Palestinians and Israelis.
The humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing unfold in Gaza is the greatest moral issue of our time – and thus far, the response of the UK Government and of the official opposition has been disgraceful.
I urge you both to belatedly do the right thing and pledge to immediately recognise Palestine as a state in its own right.
If you will not immediately commit to doing so, I can confirm that SNP MPs will bring forward a binding vote in the House of Commons at the first possible opportunity after the General Election.
Recognition would offer hope to Palestinians that a just and durable political solution is possible and would allow both Israel and Palestine to move towards long term peace and stability.
The people of Palestine have suffered enough, and each of us has a duty to do whatever we can to bring about a fair and lasting peace.
I am clear that hostages must be released, arms sales to Israel must end, an immediate ceasefire must be put in place and Palestine must be recognised as a State in order to ensure a lasting peaceI urge you to join with me and the governments of other European countries today in recognising Palestine as a State in its own right.
Yours sincerely,
John Swinney
