Starmer urged to engage with Scotland over Gaza evacuations to UK
First Minister John Swinney says Scotland “stands ready” to receive some of the 2,000 children from Gaza to be treated in the NHS
The Prime Minister has been urged to engage with Scotland on evacuating injured children from Gaza who would otherwise be “left to die”.
First Minister John Swinney wrote to Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month, saying Scotland “stands ready” to receive some of the 2,000 children from Gaza injured as a result of the Israeli bombardment of the territory, to be treated in the NHS.
But Mr Swinney claims to have received no response from the Prime Minister.
In a statement to the PA news agency, Mr Swinney said: “It is deeply saddening that so far the UK Government has refused to even enter into a dialogue about medical evacuations for children in Gaza who, without proper medical attention, will be left to die.
“That is the frank reality of life in Gaza under Israeli bombardment and blockade.
“The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of total collapse, with surgeons working day and night under artillery fire, with inadequate supplies and often no electricity.
“We know that many hospitals have been targeted and decimated by the IDF (Israel Defence Forces).”
The First Minister added that Scotland is prepared “to do what is required to save the lives of as many of these kids as we can”.
His initial call came after a meeting with children’s charity Unicef, prompting him to declare a “race against time” to help children in need of urgent medical care.
“But we can’t do so without the support of the Labour Government to get the children through the UK visa system and into Scotland,” he said.
“The suffering, torment and killing of the people of Gaza has gone on for far too long.
“I urge the Prime Minister to urgently engage with the Scottish Government on this issue so we can save as many young lives as we can.”
The UK Government has been contacted for comment.
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.
