UK recognition of statehood for Palestine is a victory for the people
Last week, the UK Labour government announced the most significant decision by a UK government regarding the path to peace in Israel and Palestine since the Oslo Accords of the 1990s.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced – in light of Israel's continued siege of Gaza and creeping occupation of the West Bank – that the United Kingdom will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly this autumn.
It came just days after France said they would recognise the state of Palestine, and it was followed by Canada saying they would do the same.
This is an historic moment.
After decades of injustice, the people of Palestine will have their state recognised by the United Kingdom. As someone who has campaigned for Palestinian statehood since my teens, this is personal to me.
I've been to the West Bank and met the Palestinians who live every day in fear of settler violence and have to pass checkpoint after checkpoint to go to work or to access healthcare.
And I have helped deliver an energy generator to the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City to allow medical procedures to take place. A hospital that has now been shamefully destroyed by Israeli forces.
This recognition of statehood is a victory for the people of Palestine and all those who have relentlessly campaigned for it globally.
This decision is not rewarding the terrorists of Hamas - it is about recognising the rights and the dignity of the people of Palestine and their right to live in freedom.
But while this decision is of seismic importance, the truth is that our priority must be ending the war and suffering right now.
We have all seen the horrifying scenes from Gaza on our televisions and phones.
Starving children. Grieving mothers. Whole towns left in rubble.
And now innocent Palestinian civilians killed in cold blood while queuing for food and medical aid. The situation is horrifying, and the world must not look away.
That's why we need to demand a ceasefire to end the killing now. An end to the blockade on vital medical aid. An end to missile fire into and out of Gaza. And for the free flow of food, medicine, energy and water.
Ending the suffering of the people of Gaza is the immediate priority. And it must be accompanied by the immediate release of the remaining Israeli hostages from captivity so they can be with their families where they belong.
We need peace and an end to the bloodshed right now.
Hamas is a terrorist organisation that committed atrocities on October 7th, 2023. That was the single largest loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust. They aren't interested in long-term peace and a two-state solution. We have to separate their actions from the Palestinian people who do not deserve this collective punishment.
But the truth is that Benjamin Netanyahu is not interested in peace either. It seems he would rather use war and violence to stay in power and out of jail.
The world now sees that he is not acting in the interests of the Israeli people who deserve to live in peace and security too.
That's why both the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice have said that there is a plausible case for genocide for the Israeli government to answer.
The only way we will get lasting peace for Israel and for Palestine is to end the violence.
To treat Israeli and Palestinian lives equally. And to reject the terrorism of Hamas and the despotism of the Netanyahu government.
Let's work together for lasting peace, dignity and freedom for Israel and for Palestine.
TRUMP IN SCOTLAND
A visit by Donald Trump never fails to grab a few headlines.
On his visit last week, the US President made his views known on a whole host of issues of a local, national and global variety.
I won't pretend to share all of his opinions – but one thing we do have in common is our love for Scotland.
There is no questioning the genuine affection Donald Trump has for this country. Time and time again he spoke warmly about his links to Scotland and his mother's childhood on the Isle of Lewis.
Whatever your views on the President, this is testament to Scotland's phenomenal reputation across the world.
Right across the world people know and love Scotland – our famous landscapes, our unique culture, our fantastic arts, and our world-class food and drink.
The strength of Brand Scotland is not just a source of soft power, but it is a huge economic asset.
I want to harness the strength of 'Brand Scotland' abroad to create jobs at home – from boosting exports to promoting tourism and attracting investment.
It's not just our world-renowned whisky and salmon - Scotland has so much to offer the world from so many sectors.
There is no shortage of talent or potential in Scotland – we just need a government with the ambition to match.
As First Minister I will stop at nothing to deliver the investment we need and to put Scotland back on the world stage.
THE FUTURE IS AI
Scotland is full of innovation and expertise.
The work done at the National Robotarium in Edinburgh is putting Scotland at the forefront of global technological and AI development.
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