Ceasefire in Gaza motion: FOI Release

Information requested

'In November 2023, the Scottish Parliament passed motion S6M-11342. This calls...........".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".

I request information on any actions that the Scottish Government has undertaken to heed this call since November 2023, including any interactions with foreign governments through Scotlands informal diplomatic channels. ie the External Affairs Directorate.'

Response

• 1 November 2023, First Minister Humza Yousaf had telephone call with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. During the call the First Minister cited the need for an immediate ceasefire.
• 2 November 2023, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson appearance at the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs Committee. During his appearance the Cabinet Secretary spoke to the committee on the First Minister’s letter calling for an immediate ceasefire on all sides to allow for the creation of a humanitarian corridor into and
  out of Gaza. The official report from the committee can be found HERE.
• 17 November 2023, First Minister Humza Yousaf held a bilateral meeting with the Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, Dr Husam S Zomlot. During the meeting the First Minister discussed the Scottish Government’s unequivocal approach to calling for an immediate ceasefire.
• 21 November 2023, Scottish Government debate on situation in the Middle East. Speeches were given by First Minister Humza Yousaf and Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson. The First Minister opened the debate, he used his speech to call for an immediate ceasefire, he said: “For the sake of the people of Gaza, who are living in a nightmare of unimaginable terror, and for that of the Israeli hostages who remain captive, this Parliament and the international community must unite in calling for an immediate ceasefire". The First Minister’s full speech can be found HERE. The official report from the debate can be found HERE.
• 21 November 2023, First Minister Humza Yousaf wrote to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer. He raised the government debate (see above) and reiterated his call for both leaders to support an immediate ceasefire. Letter to the Prime Minister, Letter to the Leader of the Opposition.
• 1 December 2023, First Minister Humza Yousaf held a bilateral meeting with President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the meeting the First Minister called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Minutes of the meeting were published as part of an earlier Freedom of Information request and can be found HERE.
• 23 December 2023, First Minister Humza Yousaf wrote to Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron. The First Minister welcomed the evolution of the UK Government’s position on support for a sustainable ceasefire but said he remained “dismayed that an immediate ceasefire is a position you are unwilling to back.”
• 22 February 2024, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, Kaukab Stewart spoke during a Scottish Government Debate on an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza and Israel. During her speech the Minister said: “Scottish Government has been consistent in condemning the abhorrent terrorist actions of Hamas, whose vile and merciless attacks on 7 October represented the single worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and in calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire by all sides in Israel and Gaza. A ceasefire is the only way that we can halt the catastrophic human suffering in Gaza and allow hostages to be most of whom have lost their homes—are to be protected, we have heard the chilling warning from Israeli ministers that such an offensive will take place before Ramadan unless hostages are released". The official report from the debate can be found HERE.
• 26 February 2024, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson wrote to The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, Minister for Development and Africa regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza. In his opening words he said: “The current conflict and wider escalation in the Middle East are an issue of great concern for us both. While the Scottish Government continues to call, alongside a growing number in the international community, for an immediate and permanent ceasefire on both sides, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate with devastating effect as the Foreign Secretary noted in his letter to the First Minister of 12 February, with nine out of 10 Gazans living on less than one meal a day".

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