THE SCOTTISH Greens have called for the government to “end their complicity” in the destruction of Gaza ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
In a statement, co-leader Patrick Harvie, slammed the UK Government for its continued arms sales to Israel and criticised the Scottish Government for financially supporting companies profiting from Israeli military activity.
“This weekend, we will remember those who lost their lives in WW1 and WW2. The slogan 'Never again' will be etched into the minds of political leaders attending Remembrance Day parades on Sunday,” he said.
“War crimes and genocide have not been banished to the past – they are being committed today, tearing our world apart, destroying homes, lives, communities and futures.”
This follows the Scottish Government’s continued support to arms companies supplying Israel and profiting from the destruction.
Earlier this year, it was reported Raytheon, BAE Systems, and Leonardo had all received taxpayer-funded grants from Scottish Enterprise since Israel began its assault on Palestine after the Hamas attacks on October 7.
In the statement, Harvie said: “By arming and supporting Israel, the UK has made itself utterly complicit in the destruction [of Gaza]. How can Keir Starmer and his colleagues look at a humanitarian emergency on that scale and decide to continue the arms sales? It is truly shameful.
“Both the Scottish and UK governments have sent funding for humanitarian aid, but they have not done anywhere near enough to cut their ties to the arms companies fuelling the crisis.
“It is long past time for a watertight arms embargo and for Scotland and the UK to join the call for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:
“The Scottish Government is committed to an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, an end to UK arms sales to Israel and will continue to press the UK Government to recognise a sovereign Palestinian state, as part of a two-state solution to secure lasting peace in the region.”
Earlier this year Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the suspension of around 30 arms export licences to Israel out of a total of approximately 350.
Keir Starmer has previously rejected calls for an arms embargo on Israel, citing that a ban on all sales "would mean none for defensive purposes.”
