Sit-in at Scottish Parliament
SPSC campaigners, members and supporters of human rights are holding a sit-in protest in the Scottish Parliament calling on the Scottish Government to support South Africa's submission to the International Court of Justice. They are there to deliver a letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf and are waiting for a response.
Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer joined the spoke to members holding the sit-in, saying: 'Scotland has a proud history of standing with Palestine. That solidarity is more important now than ever in the face of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza.'
Letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf:
Dear Mr. Yousaf,
The action South Africa has brought against Israel the most pivotal moment in the history of humanity that we will bear witness to in our lifetimes. This case will decide whether the value of human life is to be upheld and protected, and most pointedly, whether all live is valued equally in the eyes of the International Court of Justice. We have all been witnessing the glaring examples laid out in the 84 page document with our own eyes direct from Gaza and the West Bank with our own eyes, that prove Palestinian lives are not valued equally, nor have they been for 75 years. We are all disgusted and appalled at the potential lack of accountability and inequal application of international law.
There have been other genocides in living people’s lifetimes, there are several ongoing at this very moment outside of Gaza and the West Bank, but never one by which the entire world has been able to witness it, in real time, on a phone screen, direct and unfiltered from the people experiencing the brutal violence and savage dehumanization. The evidence for this case is saved on every one of our phones. This doesn’t get erased no matter what spin the media puts on the edited footage and no matter what the ruling of this trial may be. We have borne witness to the massacre of journalists, doctors, nurses, paramedics, babies, children, mothers, and fathers, and the targeted of churches, mosques, hospitals, ambulance convoys, and refugee camps. We are heartbroken by the lives lost, generations of Palestinians and entire family lines erased forever. The loss is unacceptable, we hold nothing but love and respect for Palestinians for Palestinians who remain steadfast under the violence of Israel's genocidal attacks. There is no excuse for remaining silent or neutral.
We recognize the limitations of Scotland’s authority to speak independently of the policies of the United Kingdom, but as citizens and residents of this country that exist with its own systems of laws, governing body, and a Scottish Parliament we believe there is a duty to make a moral statement against genocide. We believe that Scotland has a moral imperative to use its position to demand that the UK demand a ceasefire and to support the South Africa application at the ICJ. The evidence is crystal clear that Israel is committing genocide. Nine pages of statements by the Israeli officials within the document serve as evidence from their own mouths of intent.
‘Never Again’ is for everyone, as those at the ICJ know. Over sixty countries to date, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Namibia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palestine, Turkey, Venezuala, and the member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation all publicly support South Africa's case, with others like Belgium publicly stating they are discussing support. We believe Scotland needs to join them and press the UK to do the same. Scotland must stand in solidarity to publicly demand that those currently experiencing the horrors in Gaza are counted in that 'everyone'.
We ask that Scotland lead the way and formally support South Africa's submission to the ICJ.