Below is a statement by the Campaign for Socialism (CfS) group in Scotland. CfS has been campaigning for left-wing policies within the Labour Party in Scotland continuously throughout all the ups and downs of the last 40 years.
“The Campaign for Socialism are horrified by the loss of life in Israel and Palestine in recent days and deplore all attacks on civilians.
We urge Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to join calls for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the bombardment of Gaza and the establishment of humanitarian corridors.
As Israel’s paper of record Haaretz recognised earlier this week, this war was fuelled by an Israeli government “of annexation and dispossession… that openly ignored the existence and rights of Palestinians.”
From the beginning of 2023 up to October 6th, Israeli forces had killed 240 Palestinians including 45 children – the highest level of killing since the UN began to keep accurate records in 2005.
We believe only a just peace will stop this violence. This peace must be predicated upon an end to the decades long system of occupation and apartheid in Palestine.
Earlier this week, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced a “complete siege” of Gaza to fight “against human animals”. This vile and dehumanising language has been used to justify the collective punishment of the people of Gaza.
The indiscriminate bombardment of a city, 50% of whose inhabitants are children, cannot possibly be justified as “self-defence”.
Keir Starmer endorsed this war crime when he told LBC that Israel has “a right to” cut off water, food and electricity from the people of Gaza, who are trapped in the world’s largest open air prison.
In the strongest possible terms, we condemn this reaction from the UK Labour leadership.
Now more than ever those who call themselves internationalists must demand Israel immediately open humanitarian corridors to allow the unimpeded entry of medical aid and supplies to assist the two million people suffering under siege.
We call on the Scottish Labour leadership to endorse this position and seek support for it across the Scottish Labour movement.”
The shift in recent days by Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, to call for humanitarian corridors has undoubtedly been influenced by party members and we would therefore urge you to keep up the pressure by contacting your local or regional Labour MSP to push for not just humanitarian corridors but also a ceasefire and an end to the siege.
Featured image provided by David Cartwright, demonstration in Glasgow, 14 October 2023
