Edinburgh to become first Scottish city to boycott Israeli regime over genocide

Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, has aimed to become the first Scottish city to boycott the Israeli regime over its ongoing genocidal war against  Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

City Councillors voted on Thursday in favour of a motion which moves the capital closer to implementing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against the Zionist regime in opposition to the Gaza genocide.

Green Councillor Ben Parker said the Council took a step towards ensuring that no public money is being used to support the regime.

Scotland says Israel committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza, urges UK to end arms sales

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, urging the UK government to end all arms sales to the regime.

“The people of Edinburgh have repeatedly voiced their solidarity with the people of Palestine, and Green Councillors have long been trying to find ways to turn that solidarity into practical actions against the Israeli regime," Parker said. 

“BDS is one way of doing this, but local councils have previously been blocked from taking this action against Israel due to an outdated piece of legislation," he added. 

“As we approach two years of continued bombardment, torture and mass starvation of Palestinians, it seems bizarre to be debating motions about regulations and process," Parker said. 

“But we’re hoping that the move by the Scottish Government will allow Edinburgh to follow suit and take real, practical steps towards a free Palestine -- so we need clarity on exactly what this means for local government procurement rules." 

Meanwhile, former co-leader of the Scottish Greens, Patrick Harvie, said, "We fully support our Green Councillors motion, and we hope that Edinburgh will lead the way in taking action to boycott Israel."

“There is a role for every level of government in taking action and showing true solidarity with the Palestinian people who are subjected to horrific killing and dehumanisation by Israeli military forces," he said. 

“Scotland must divest from any Israeli-linked companies and arms dealers who profit from the state-sanctioned genocide in Gaza," he stated.  

“The Scottish Government has already voted in favour of our proposals, and now they must explain how they will carry them out, and how they will work with local councils to enable them to do the same.”

The Greens hope to use the international sanctions and boycotts to pressure the Israeli regime into ending the genocidal war against Gaza and upholding its responsibilities to international law.

Scotland’s parliament votes for boycott of Israel amid Gaza genocide

Scotland’s Parliament has voted to impose an immediate and comprehensive boycott on Israel and companies connected to its genocide in Gaza.

However, Scottish Conservatives, who are opposed to the move, labelled the motion as “warped” and “anti-Semitic”.

Jackson Carlaw, a former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, claimed Edinburgh residents expect the city Councillors to be focused on menial jobs like emptying their bins and filling potholes instead of putting forward legislation aimed at ending suffering and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 

Since the Israeli regime launched its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, at least 65,502 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The Israeli regime also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICC) for its crimes in the besieged Palestinian land.

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