THE UK Government has been called to take action as famine is officially declared in Gaza after ignoring repeated requests to recall Parliament early.
The SNP’s Middle East spokesperson, Brendan O’Hara, has written a letter to Keir Starmer with a list of actions the Prime Minister must take as the genocide in the enclave continues.
It comes as Israeli finance minister, Bezamel Smotrich, confirmed that Israel’s plan is to “conquer, cleanse, and stay” in Gaza.
The list of actions includes a complete arms embargo on Israel, immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, formally joining the prevention of genocide case brought forth by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and imposing economic sanctions on Israel.
O’Hara also demanded a public notice be issued to UK nationals currently serving in the IDF that they risk prosecution for war crimes upon return, the initiation of an operation to send naval vessels to deliver aid to the enclave and committing to enforcing the international arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet.
“Failure to do so is a breach of your legal obligations as per the ICJ Advisory Opinion of July 2024, ICJ Provisional Measures in the South Africa case, your obligations under the Genocide Convention and the Geneva Conventions”, O’Hara stated. "Your Labour Government cannot sit silent as a genocide unfolds in Gaza and I look forward to hearing from you.”
It comes as Health Secretary Neil Gray said “Scotland stands ready” to treat up to 20 Gazan children in Scottish hospitals as medical evacuations to the UK are set to begin in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has urged the SNP to commit to adopting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) measures after UN experts officially declared famine in the region.
Harvie said: “The fact that Gaza is facing famine is a grotesque and totally avoidable consequence of this horrific war. It is a man-made crisis and the forced starvation of a people.
“It has been waged with no compassion for Palestinian people while governments around the world have done little to end the siege or ensure that humanitarian aid reaches people in Gaza.
“We are witnessing late-stage genocide unfold on the world stage, and our governments are actively participating by allowing Israeli forces to carry on rounding up displaced Palestinians, and killing them when they attempt to find food and water. “I implore both the UK and Scottish Governments to take immediate action. That means replacing military and political support for Israel with a package of sanctions. Downing Street must immediately end all arms sales and military cooperation with an Israeli government that is inflicting some of the worst atrocities of this century on the people of Gaza.
“Scotland can and must lead by example. There can be no more excuses. The SNP must finally back global calls for boycott, disinvestment and sanctions and finally stop public funding for companies with Palestinian blood on their hands.”
