THE Scottish Government's failure to implement a boycott of Israel is undermining its claims of solidarity with Palestine despite ministers pledging an extra £500,000 in aid funding this week.
John Swinney, alongside other Scottish political leaders, met with Palestinian ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, earlier this week after it was confirmed people in Gaza and the West Bank were to be further supported by the SNP Government.
The funding – which will support the delivery of healthcare, clean water, food, shelter, education and protection services – is in addition to £600,000 already provided last year that has assisted approximately 2.4 million people across Gaza and the West Bank.
But while welcoming the additional £500,000, Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer said the Government’s failure to implement parliament’s boycott vote undermines its claims of solidarity with Palestine.
Despite voting for the Greens’ Israel boycott proposal last September, ministers have not only failed to implement it but have also strengthened ties with companies accused of complicity in the Israeli occupation.
Earlier this month, the Scottish Government selected Barclays bank as a partner for its forthcoming bond programme despite concerns over its financial links to arms companies supplying Israel and its partnership with the Israeli government for the country's own bond scheme.
The proposal had asked for "the Scottish and UK governments to immediately impose a package of boycotts, divestment and sanctions targeted at the state of Israel and at companies complicit in its military operations and its occupation of Palestine" which was passed by 62 votes to 31, with 21 abstentions.
After meeting Zomlot, Greer told The National: “The Scottish Government’s announcement of £500,000 in humanitarian aid is very welcome, but it cannot be used as a substitute for action against those enabling Israel’s occupation.
“Scotland must play our part in ending this genocide by putting direct economic pressure on the apartheid state.
“Almost a year ago, the Scottish Parliament voted for a Green proposal to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel and complicit companies. The SNP rightly backed that plan, but their government has done nothing to implement it in the year since.
“In fact, ministers have deepened their relationship with the likes of Barclays, a bank which has provided billions of pounds in financial support to arms companies supplying Israel and is a direct partner of the Israeli government. That is the opposite of what Parliament agreed to.
“John Swinney’s government must deliver on the proposal it voted for; end its relationship with companies like Barclays; and finally implement a meaningful boycott of Israel and the companies profiting from the occupation of Palestine.”
The Scottish Government last month confirmed nine banks which had been chosen to support a £1.5 billion issuance of bonds. Expected later in 2026 or early 2027, the plan will see the Government lent money by private investors in exchange for interest payments and the return of their principal at a set maturity date.
Among the banks signed up was Barclays, which the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement says is “bankrolling Israel’s genocide”.
The BDS movement notes that Barclays has “an agreement with Israel to act as a 'primary dealer' for its government bonds [meaning] it helps Israel directly to raise money to fund its genocide and apartheid against Palestinians”.
A Barclays statement on allegations that it has helped fund Israel’s war on Palestinians says: “As a global investment bank, we act as part of a syndicate of international banks that connects the world’s largest economies to the international capital markets through weekly debt auctions. This includes the State of Israel.
“We do not provide direct funding through these auctions.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “In response to the situation in Gaza, the Scottish Government has consistently advocated for peace, justice and human rights, and will continue to do what we can to support a rapid resolution to the conflict and to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable.
“In September 2025, the Scottish Government announced a comprehensive package of economic and humanitarian measures, within the limits of the Scottish Government’s devolved powers. As a result of this package, the Scottish Government and its agencies are now implementing a pause in activities that proactively support trade with Israel.”
