THE First Minister has said he will “never hold back” in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza after a meeting with the Palestinian ambassador.
John Swinney held a virtual meeting with Husam Zomlot (below), the head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, on Wednesday and discussed the Scottish Government’s “support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis, and the safe return of all hostages”.
The meeting, plans for which it is understood pre-date the General Election, comes after the Scottish Government faced harsh criticism from its own side for a meeting with a top Israeli diplomat.
In a statement released after the talks, Swinney said: “As First Minister of Scotland, I will never hold back in expressing support for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and the recognition of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state within a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace alongside each other.”
Swinney previously defended his External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson for meeting Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK, Daniela Grudsky Ekstein.
Robertson has since apologised for the meeting, which was kept secret by the Scottish Government for four days earlier this month.
The SNP minister faced fury from party figures, including the Westminster group.
Thank you @AngusRobertson for welcoming us to wonderful Scotland. Discussed the unique commonalities between 🇮🇱-🏴 and also emphasized the urgent need to bring back our 115 hostages. Looking forward to cooperating in the fields of technology, culture and renewable energy. pic.twitter.com/sh2KeqRa9j
— Daniela Grudsky (@DanielaGrudsky) August 12, 2024
Foreign affairs spokesperson Brendan O’Hara expressed his “anger” with Robertson in a letter, which accused him of undermining the work the SNP had done to champion the Palestinian cause in the London parliament.
At an event as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Tuesday, Swinney was heckled by an audience member who accused him of "legitimising a genocidal apartheid state".
Zomlot, who has served as Palestine's top diplomat in the UK since 2018, revealed in February how eight members of his family had been killed by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah.
