Swinney condemns ‘unjustifiable’ Israeli strike on Qatar

First Minister John Swinney has described Israel’s air strikes against senior Hamas leaders in Qatar as “unjustifiable”, as he was pressed on his Government’s response to conflict in the Middle East.

During First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood on Thursday, the issue was raised by Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer.

Mr Swinney said: “There is an appalling situation in Gaza, it has been escalated by the unwarranted and unjustifiable attack in Qatar, a state that is working to try and bring some degree of peace to the situation in the Middle East.

“The attack on Qatar was an attack to undermine the very peace process that all of us want to see happening.”

Mr Greer also raised concerns about the visit by Israeli president Isaac Herzog to Downing Street on Wednesday for talks with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Mr Swinney responded: “I understand the depth of concern that Mr Greer puts to me today about the visit…

“I understand the Prime Minister’s argument that there is a need for there to be dialogue with the Israeli government to try to bring about a resolution of the unjustifiable assault on Gaza.

“What I want to be more confident of is that the president of Israel heard from the Prime Minister a series of actions that the United Kingdom Government will take to bring Israel to account for the disproportionate attack that has been made on Gaza.”

Mr Greer went on to call for the prosecution of those from Scotland who have travelled to serve in Israel’s forces.

He said: “British citizens and residents have travelled to serve in Israel’s occupation forces, making them complicit in war crimes.

“This Parliament passed the International Criminal Court Act in 2001, making genocide and war crimes offences in Scots law, regardless of where they are committed.

“Can the First Minister confirm that this law will be applied in full and that anyone in Scotland who has served in Israel’s occupation forces will be investigated – and, if necessary, prosecuted for their part in the crimes of genocide and occupation?”

Mr Swinney said: “On the specific point that Mr Greer puts to me about any individuals who are involved from this country in the work of IDF (Israel Defence Forces)… these would be judgments made independently by the prosecutorial authorities.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar told journalists in Holyrood it is important to have “difficult conversations”, following Sir Keir’s meeting with Mr Herzog.

“I think there’s a real stark contrast, if you look at the invitation that was given to (Palestinian Authority) President Abbas that there was on Monday, I think you’ll see that there was a very stark contrast in terms of that and the visit of the president of Israel,” Mr Sarwar said.

“The Prime Minister made it very, very clear that sometimes you’ve got to have difficult conversations and sometimes you’ve got to have difficult conversations with people you disagree with.

“The Israeli government has to answer for their unacceptable attack on Gaza, their deliberate starvation of the Palestinian people, and the clear breaches of (Israeli PM) Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet of international law.

“These are all issues that were put to the president of Israel and put to him very forcefully, which is the right approach.”