The Scottish Parliament has joined growing calls for immediate international intervention in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation has reached a horrifying new low.
SNP MSP Bill Kidd led a deeply emotional debate in Holyrood, highlighting the killing of at least 51 starving Palestinians who were shot while gathering near an emergency food distribution site.
The debate centred on a motion that reflected not just political concern but the anger and heartbreak being felt across Scotland and around the world.
More than 50000 people have now been killed in Gaza.
Kidd told Parliament that the people of Palestine are being denied food, water and basic medical aid.
He said the recent deaths of civilians trying to collect emergency food parcels should shake the conscience of the world.
In his address, Kidd said a ceasefire is not optional but a humanitarian imperative.
The motion called for an immediate ceasefire, the safe return of all hostages, and the unconditional lifting of restrictions on life-saving aid.
It also called for the international community to recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state.
Kidd criticised the UK government’s inaction and said Westminster must be held accountable for its failure to respond meaningfully to the crisis.
He also accused Labour of falling short on moral leadership and failing to reflect the scale of human suffering in its policies.
He said the Scottish Parliament has spoken with moral clarity and that now is the time for all political leaders to show courage and compassion.
The debate captured a wider mood of urgency across Scotland, with the SNP’s motion underlining the growing public demand for global justice and peace.
It was not only a call for ceasefire and aid but a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict.
The deaths of civilians queuing for food, said Kidd, are not distant tragedies but shared human losses.
The Holyrood debate has added Scotland’s voice to an international outcry for action.
Now attention turns to London and beyond.
Will world leaders hear this call and respond before more lives are lost?
Kidd’s final words made it plain.
This is a moral test.
The time to act is now.
