Keir Starmer urged to 'engage' with Scotland over Gaza children
In a statement to the PA news agency, Mr Swinney said: 'It is deeply saddening that so far the UK Government has refused to even enter into a dialogue about medical evacuations for children in [[Gaza]] who, without proper medical attention, will be left to die.
'That is the frank reality of life in Gaza under Israeli bombardment and blockade.
'The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of total collapse, with surgeons working day and night under artillery fire, with inadequate supplies and often no electricity.
'We know that many hospitals have been targeted and decimated by the IDF (Israel Defence Forces).'
The First Minister added that Scotland is prepared 'to do what is required to save the lives of as many of these kids as we can'.
His initial call came after a meeting with children's charity Unicef, prompting him to declare a 'race against time' to help children in need of urgent medical care.
Read More
'But we can't do so without the support of the Labour Government to get the children through the UK visa system and into Scotland,' he said.
'The suffering, torment and killing of the people of Gaza has gone on for far too long.
'I urge the Prime Minister to urgently engage with the Scottish Government on this issue so we can save as many young lives as we can.'
A spokeswoman for the UK Government said: 'Since the start of the conflict, UK support has provided essential healthcare to over 430,000 people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
'We have helped several children with complex paediatric conditions access privately funded medical care in the UK, supporting an initiative by Project Pure Hope.
'We have been clear the situation in Gaza is intolerable and that there must be an immediate ceasefire.
'We urge Israel to let vital humanitarian aid in and allow Gazans to receive urgent healthcare, including allowing the sick and wounded to temporarily leave the Gaza Strip to receive treatment.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Scottish firm urgently recalls multiple jam flavours over possible health risk
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced the recall in a new allergy alert. A Scottish food firm has announced a major recall for some of its jams. It has been discovered that some of them may be "unsafe to eat." Sarah Gray's, based in Cupar, Fife, offers a range of homemade preserves, chutneys and marmalades that have been made using local fruit and "years of knowledge." However, the brand has now announced that 13 of its strawberry and champagne/prosecco jams pose a possible health risk since they contain sulphites, an ingredient not mentioned on the packaging. This means that they are unsuitable for anyone with a sensitivity to sulphur dioxide and sulphites, which is why they have been advised not to eat them if they have purchased them. An allergy alert posted to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has shared the full details of the jams recalled, with an assortment of jar sizes and dates affected. Shoppers who have purchased any of the affected jars are being urged to return them to the store they were bought from to receive a full refund. Meanwhile, Sarah Gray's has issued point of sale notices to all retail stores that sell the products. These will explain to customers the full details of the recall and what to do if they have purchased any of the affected jams. To give readers the full details, find below all of the jams recalled by Sarah Gray's. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Full list of Sarah Gray's recalled jams Sarah Gray's Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including October 7, 2026 Sarah Gray's Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including September 18, 2026 House of Bruar Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 45g, all dates up to and including October 7, 2026 House of Bruar Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 30g, all dates up to and including September 18, 2026 House of Bruar Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 45g, all dates up to and including September 18, 2026 Elie Deli Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including October 7, 2026 Sarah Gray's McCoo Preserves Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including September 18, 2026 Sarah Gray's McCoo Preserves Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including October 7, 2026 Sarah Gray's McCoo Preserves Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 125g, all dates up to and including October 7, 2026 Sarah Gray's McCoo Preserves Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 125g, all dates up to and including September 18, 2026 Sarah Gray's Steven Brown preserves McCoo Three Jar Gift Set, 375g, all dates up to and including October 7, 2026 Royal Yacht Britannia Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including September 18, 2026 Royal Yacht Britannia Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 35g, all dates up to and including September 18, 2026 House of Bruar Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including October 7, 2026.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Keir Starmer 'hasn't responded' to John Swinney on Gaza child evacuations
Writing in The National earlier this month, the First Minister said Scotland's NHS was ready to treat injured Palestinian children. Swinney said that the Scottish Government is looking to medically evacuate children suffering from injuries caused by Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza, but that this "requires the support of the UK Government". First Minister John Swinney (Image: PA) The First Minister revealed that he had written to Keir Starmer urging him to support the evacuations to hospitals in Scotland. However, Swinney said on Sunday that he is yet to receive a response from the Prime Minister. The First Minister said in a statement: 'It is deeply saddening that so far the UK Government has refused to even enter into a dialogue about medical evacuations for children in Gaza who, without proper medical attention, will be left to die. READ MORE: Palestine Action co-founder set to challenge UK Government terror ban 'That is the frank reality of life in Gaza under Israeli bombardment and blockade. 'The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of total collapse, with surgeons working day and night under artillery fire, with inadequate supplies and often no electricity. 'We know that many hospitals have been targeted and decimated by the IDF.' The First Minister added that Scotland is prepared 'to do what is required to save the lives of as many of these kids as we can'. Swinney's letter to Starmer was sparked by a meeting he had held with UN agency Unicef to discuss medical evacuations. The SNP leader wrote in The National at the time: 'With hospitals destroyed and medical supplies running out, this is an emergency and a race against time to provide specialist medical care for the children and babies suffering from injuries caused by the war. 'Scotland's world-class National Health Service stands ready to play our full part in supporting these medical evacuations and the treatment of injured Palestinian children.' He added: 'This requires the support of the UK Government, and I have asked the Prime Minister to support facilitating a transfer of these children, who need medical care to survive, to Scotland.' Swinney's predecessor, Humza Yousaf, previously said that Scottish hospitals can help treat injured Gaza civilians if they are medically evacuated. He added, however, that 'no request has been made' for the UK to receive medical evacuations from Gaza at that time. READ MORE: 3 women charged under Terrorism Act after breaching Edinburgh arms factory Since then, Israel has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry. On Sunday, at least 73 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach desperately needed aid in Gaza. In northern Gaza, 67 people were killed near the Zikim crossing with Israel as aid trucks had just arrived. According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), 25 trucks carrying supplies for "starving communities" entered the area but were met by large crowds that came under gunfire. A UK Government spokeswoman said: 'Since the start of the conflict, UK support has provided essential healthcare to over 430,000 people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. 'We have helped several children with complex paediatric conditions access privately funded medical care in the UK, supporting an initiative by Project Pure Hope. 'We have been clear the situation in Gaza is intolerable and that there must be an immediate ceasefire. 'We urge Israel to let vital humanitarian aid in and allow Gazans to receive urgent healthcare, including allowing the sick and wounded to temporarily leave the Gaza Strip to receive treatment.'
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Israeli forces kill at least 85 Palestinians seeking aid, health ministry says
More than 150 people have been wounded, some critically, ITV News Vincent McAviney reports At least 85 people have been killed by the Israeli military while waiting for aid at sites across Gaza on Sunday, making it the deadliest day for aid seekers in more than 21 months of war, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. A fresh alarm was raised after Israel's military ordered evacuations in parts of central Gaza — an area it has rarely entered with ground troops and where many international aid groups are based. Israel has not yet commented. The largest toll was in northern Gaza, where at least 79 Palestinians were killed while attempting to access aid entering northern Gaza through the Zikim crossing with Israel, according to the Health Ministry and local hospitals. The UN World Food Programme said 25 aid trucks entered for 'starving communities' but were met by huge crowds. Palestinians react after carrying the bodies of those killed while trying to reach aid trucks. / Credit: AP A UN official, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to speak publicly, said Israeli forces opened fire on crowds trying to take food from the convoy. More than 150 people were wounded, some critically, hospitals said. 'Suddenly, tanks surrounded us, trapping us as gunfire and strikes rained down. We were trapped for around two hours,' said Ehab Al-Zei, who had been waiting for flour and hadn't eaten bread in 15 days. Speaking amid the chaos of people carrying the dead and wounded, he added: 'I will never go back again. Let us die of hunger, it's better.' Nafiz Al-Najjar, who was injured, said tanks and drones targeted people 'randomly,' and he saw his cousin and others shot dead. Israel's military said soldiers fired at a crowd of thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza who posed a threat and acknowledged some casualties. However, it said Gaza officials' casualty figures were much higher than its own initial findings and accused Hamas militants of causing the chaos. Witnesses and health workers report that several hundred people have been killed by Israeli fire while trying to reach the group's aid distribution points. Separately, seven Palestinians, including a five-year-old boy, were killed while sheltering in tents in Khan Younis, the Kuwait Specialised Field Hospital said. The warnings come as Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar, but international mediators say there have been no breakthroughs. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stressed that expanding Israeli military operations in Gaza will pressure Hamas to negotiate, despite widespread protests. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee warned that the military will attack 'with intensity' against militants. He called for residents, including those sheltering in tents, to head to the Muwasi area, a desolate tent camp on Gaza's southern shore that the Israeli military has designated a humanitarian zone. In recent weeks, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The United Nations human rights office recently confirmed that at least 875 Palestinians have been killed whilst seeking food since May, with 674 of those in the vicinity of GHF distribution points. On Saturday, at least 32 people were killed after Israeli troops opened fire towards a crowd of Palestinians waiting for aid at a distribution hub, according to witnesses and hospital officials. Relatives of Palestinians killed at an aid distribution center run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. / Credit: AP The deaths occurred in two incidents near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israel-backed group. Separately, two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, health officials said. The Israeli military said it had struck some 90 targets throughout Gaza on Saturday, and that it had killed militants and targeted 'terror infrastructure' in northern Gaza and Gaza City. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the violence near the aid sites, nor did the GHF. Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians are facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The 21-month war was triggered when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Fifty hostages remain, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel's military offensive that followed has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which says that more than half of those killed have been women and children. Although the ministry is part of the Hamas government, the UN and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. People take part in a protest demanding the end of the war and immediate release of hostages held by Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel. / Credit: AP Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians are facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Hamas triggered the 21-month war when militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel's military offensive that followed has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many militants are among the dead but says more than half of the dead have been women and children. The Hostages Family Forum, which represents many of the families of Israeli hostages, condemned the evacuation announcement and demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli military explain what they hope to accomplish in the area of central Gaza, accusing Israel of operating without a clear war plan. 'Enough! The Israeli people overwhelmingly want an end to the fighting and a comprehensive agreement that will return all of the hostages,' the forum said. On Saturday night, during the weekly protest, tens of thousands of protesters marched in Tel Aviv, demonstrating for an end to the war. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
