Cowdenbeath MSP Alex Rowley is trying to secure a members debate in the Scottish Parliament on the on going issue of the murdering of innocent children and adults in Gaza and has tabled a motion calling for the Parliament to condemn in the strongest terms what it sees as the unlawful killing of innocent men, women and children during the latest conflict in Gaza.
Mr Rowley said: “I believe that no one can be anything but absolutely shocked when they see on their television screens the murder of the innocent in Gaza night after night. No matter the rights and wrongs of the situation and conflict between the Israeli State and Hamas, it cannot be right under any circumstances that schools, hospitals and United Nations refuge centres are being bombed by the Israeli government killing hundreds of children and hundreds more of adults. To date over 1400 Innocent civilians have been killed and if this was happening anywhere else in the world there would be a international outcry by governments across the world and they would be taking action against the state that was carrying out these atrocities against humanity. Israel should be treated no different and we need to demand our government firm up their action against such indiscriminate murder. The UK should be removing arms export licences they have with the state of Israel and supporting the UN to pursue a war crimes case against Israel and that is what I am calling on the Parliament to support.
“Given the seriousness of this situation and the terrible atrocities being carried out against innocent men, women and children, I think it is appropriate for the Scottish Parliament to discuss this issue and send a clear message that this is not acceptable no matter where it is happening in the world”.
Copy of the motion that has been tabled in the name of Alex Rowley MSP
Title: ♦ Condemnation of Unlawful Killings in Gaza
Motion Text:
That the Parliament condemns in the strongest terms what it sees as the unlawful killing of innocent men, woman and children during the latest conflict in Gaza; notes the hopes being expressed that the UK Government, and other governments throughout the world, will remove any arms export licences they have with the state of Israel; notes the view that it is essential for the UN to pursue a war crimes case against Israel and to hold its government accountable for the actions that have seen over 1,400 Palestinians killed in the first four weeks of the conflict; understands that the UN has stated that, by not abiding by the principles of international humanitarian law and human rights law by failing to distinguish between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives, Israel is not abiding by the principles of both international humanitarian and human rights laws; further notes the UN’s comments that the actions of the Israeli state should be investigated and the perpetrators of what it sees as these atrocious war crimes be brought to justice; congratulates the almost 700 people who joined the Kirkcaldy march and rally held on 2 August 2014 to highlight the plight of the people living in Gaza, and understands that people across Scotland are organising similar events in solidarity with those living in the most appalling of conditions in the conflict zone.
Alex Rowley MSP
