Scottish Green Party flags on a demonstration

All governments have a responsibility to end their complicity in the mass destruction and killing being inflicted on Gaza, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has said.

With the United Nations warning that 70% of people killed in the war in Gaza are women and children, the Scottish Greens have reaffirmed calls for the UK government to end arms sales to Israel, and for the Scottish Government to stop all financial support for companies who are profiting from the war.

Harvie said: “After the horrors of October 7th, the last 400 days have seen some of the worst war crimes of this century carried out against the people of Gaza. It has been the collective punishment of 2 million people, with the decimation of the health system and life saving infrastructure and whole neighbourhoods left uninhabitable.

“It has been broadcast to the world by an Israeli government that feels no shame or remorse for the awful consequences of the war they have waged. Nobody can say that they were unaware.

“For the international community this has been one of the most profound moral tests for our age, and it is one that has been badly failed.

“By arming and supporting Israel, the UK has made itself utterly complicit in the destruction. 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.”

Harvie added: “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.

“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.

“We need to acknowledge everyone who has suffered and is suffering because of war, and to live up to our responsibility to create and nurture peace.”

Image credit: Ric Lander – Creative Commons