Police intervene as pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt John Swinney at Edinburgh Fringe
First Minister brands Gaza crisis ‘genocide’ following repeated heckling and demands to end arms funding
Police were called to an event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Saturday after First Minister John Swinney was repeatedly confronted by pro-Palestinian protesters demanding he declare Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide.
Swinney had been on stage at the Stand comedy club in York Place for a live interview with comedian Susan Morrison when activists interrupted proceedings, holding signs and accusing the Scottish Government of hypocrisy over its funding of defence-related firms.
Despite the First Minister’s repeated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and his support for UK recognition of a Palestinian state, demonstrators insisted he “say the word” and condemned the government’s commercial links to companies involved in arms production.
After the event, Swinney told reporters: “It’s quite clear that there is a genocide in Palestine – it can’t be disputed. I have seen reports of terrible atrocities which have the character of being a genocide. That’s my feeling.”
His statement, the first time he has publicly used the term, makes Swinney the second UK national leader to accuse Israel of genocide after Michelle O’Neill, First Minister of Northern Ireland, did so in July.
Audience videos posted online showed activists holding placards depicting malnourished children and clashing with venue staff and police. According to eyewitnesses, the event was disrupted at least five times, with chants of “Call it genocide” and shouts condemning UK-Israel defence ties.
One protester referenced American metal band Disturbed – whose lead singer recently signed an Israeli bomb in a viral photo – and accused Swinney of double standards for criticising Irish rap group Kneecap but not publicly commenting on the former. Swinney defended the support schemes, saying: “We are trying to enable companies to diversify their activities… due diligence checks are applied unreservedly.”
The protest also follows a week of escalating cultural controversy at the Fringe. Jewish comedians Rachel Creeger and Philip Simon were recently removed from the programme at Whistlebinkies, another Edinburgh venue, over alleged “safety concerns”. Both acts have since relocated their shows elsewhere in the city.
In a column in The Scotsman, poet Jenny Lindsay accused the arts world of tolerating the silencing of Jewish voices, saying: “An arts world lacking courage has no chance against activists who are frighteningly relentless.”
Israel strongly denies that it is committing genocide in Gaza, calling its war effort a legal and necessary act of self-defence following the 7 October Hamas attacks, in which 1,200 people – mostly civilians – were murdered and over 250 taken hostage. At least 50 hostages remain in captivity.
The UK government has so far declined to label the war a genocide, maintaining that such determinations must be made by a competent court.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
