The Situation in the Middle East
- Submitted by: Humza Yousaf, Glasgow Pollok, Scottish National Party.
- Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2023
- Motion reference: S6M-11342
- Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 21 November 2023
Motions as amended
That the Parliament unequivocally condemns in the strongest possible terms Hamas’s barbaric and unjustifiable terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens on 7 October 2023, and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; agrees that all human life is equal, abhors the loss of innocent lives, and affirms the right of all Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security; further agrees that the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza, including women and children who have been besieged by Israeli forces, must stop; associates itself with the United Nations Secretary-General’s statements that there must be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow civilians to escape harm, for hostages to be released, for humanitarian aid to reach those in need, and affirming that international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, must be upheld; reiterates its solidarity with Scotland’s Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian communities and condemns antisemitism, Islamophobia or any other form of hatred; welcomes the Scottish Government’s contribution of £750,000 towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East’s flash appeal for Gaza, and the humanitarian assistance announced by the UK Government; reaffirms that a credible, lasting and sustainable peace can only be based on the two-state solution through reinvigorated diplomatic and political efforts in the Middle East Peace Process; agrees with many in the international community that all parties must agree to an immediate ceasefire; recognises that, in order for any ceasefire to work, it requires all sides to comply; is horrified by the Hamas statement that it would repeat the 7 October attacks and continue rocket fire; regrets that Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that he will not even consider a ceasefire; calls, therefore, on the international community to use every form of diplomacy to try and create the conditions on the ground to make a ceasefire a reality; further calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate the conduct of all parties in this conflict, and reaffirms the commitment to a lasting peace and a two-state solution with the end of illegal occupation, siege and settlements.
Supported by:
Jamie Hepburn, Christina McKelvie, Angus Robertson, Paul Sweeney
Vote
Result 90 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote Vote Passed
Scottish National Party
- 58 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 5 did not vote
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For
- Alasdair Allan
- Angela Constance
- Angus Robertson
- Annabelle Ewing
- Audrey Nicoll
- Ben Macpherson
- Bill Kidd
- Bob Doris
- Christina McKelvie
- Christine Grahame
- Clare Adamson
- Clare Haughey
- Colin Beattie
- David Torrance
- Elena Whitham
- Emma Harper
- Emma Roddick
- Fiona Hyslop
- Fulton MacGregor
- George Adam
- Gordon MacDonald
- Graeme Dey
- Humza Yousaf
- Ivan McKee
- Jackie Dunbar
- James Dornan
- Jamie Hepburn
- Jenni Minto
- Jenny Gilruth
- Jim Fairlie
- Joe FitzPatrick
- John Mason
- John Swinney
- Karen Adam
- Kate Forbes
- Kaukab Stewart
- Keith Brown
- Kenneth Gibson
- Kevin Stewart
- Màiri McAllan
- Maree Todd
- Marie McNair
- Michael Matheson
- Michelle Thomson
- Natalie Don
- Neil Gray
- Nicola Sturgeon
- Paul McLennan
- Richard Lochhead
- Rona Mackay
- Ruth Maguire
- Shirley-Anne Somerville
- Shona Robison
- Siobhian Brown
- Stephanie Callaghan
- Stuart McMillan
- Tom Arthur
- Willie Coffey
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- 0 for
- 28 against
- 0 abstained
- 3 did not vote
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For
0Against
- Alexander Burnett
- Alexander Stewart
- Annie Wells
- Brian Whittle
- Craig Hoy
- Donald Cameron
- Douglas Lumsden
- Douglas Ross
- Dr. Sandesh Gulhane
- Edward Mountain
- Finlay Carson
- Graham Simpson
- Jackson Carlaw
- Jamie Greene
- Jamie Halcro Johnston
- Liam Kerr
- Liz Smith
- Maurice Golden
- Meghan Gallacher
- Murdo Fraser
- Oliver Mundell
- Rachael Hamilton
- Roz McCall
- Russell Findlay
- Sharon Dowey
- Stephen Kerr
- Sue Webber
- Tess White
Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Labour
- 21 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 1 did not vote
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For
- Alex Rowley
- Anas Sarwar
- Carol Mochan
- Claire Baker
- Colin Smyth
- Daniel Johnson
- Foysol Choudhury
- Jackie Baillie
- Katy Clark
- Mark Griffin
- Martin Whitfield
- Mercedes Villalba
- Monica Lennon
- Neil Bibby
- Pam Duncan-Glancy
- Paul O'Kane
- Paul Sweeney
- Pauline McNeill
- Rhoda Grant
- Richard Leonard
- Sarah Boyack
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Green Party
- 7 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 0 did not vote
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For
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
0Scottish Liberal Democrats
- 3 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 1 did not vote
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For
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
Alba Party
- 1 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 0 did not vote
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No Party Affiliation
- 0 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 1 did not vote
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Original motion text
That the Parliament unequivocally condemns in the strongest possible terms Hamas’s barbaric and unjustifiable terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens on 7 October 2023, and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; agrees that all human life is equal, abhors the loss of innocent lives, and affirms the right of all Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security; further agrees that the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza, including women and children who have been besieged by Israeli forces, must stop; associates itself with the United Nations Secretary-General’s statements that there must be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow civilians to escape harm, for hostages to be released, for humanitarian aid to reach those in need, and affirming that international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, must be upheld; reiterates its solidarity with Scotland’s Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian communities and condemns antisemitism, Islamophobia or any other form of hatred; welcomes the Scottish Government’s contribution of £750,000 towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East’s flash appeal for Gaza, and the humanitarian assistance announced by the UK Government; reaffirms that a credible, lasting and sustainable peace can only be based on the two-state solution through reinvigorated diplomatic and political efforts in the Middle East Peace Process, and agrees with many in the international community that all parties must agree to an immediate ceasefire.
Accepted amendments
Submitted by: Anas Sarwar, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Monday, November 20, 2023
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Result 91 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote Vote Passed
Amendments that have not been voted on
Submitted by: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: Monday, November 20, 2023
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Submitted by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date lodged: Monday, November 20, 2023
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, November 21, 2023