Scotland Must Not Misuse the Language of Genocide

This week, the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza and ordered the Palestinian flag to be flown above St Andrew’s House. He also announced measures singling out Israel, including a ban on public funding for firms supplying the Jewish state with arms.

These actions and statements are deeply troubling. They distort international law, exceed the Scottish Government’s devolved powers, and—most importantly—ignore the horrors perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October 2023, when 1,200 Israelis were massacred and over 250 people taken hostage.

Flying the Palestinian flag above Scotland’s government headquarters sends a one-sided, divisive message that has caused deep distress to Scotland’s Jewish community and to Jews worldwide. The claim of genocide against Israel is an incendiary accusation that undermines truth, fuels antisemitism, and plays directly into the propaganda aims of terrorist organisations.

As We Believe in Israel (WBII), we cannot remain silent. That is why we have written to the First Minister, urging him to:

• Retract the false allegation of genocide unless and until such a finding is made by a competent international tribunal.

• Acknowledge the atrocities committed by Hamas and their responsibility for igniting and perpetuating this conflict.

• Keep the Scottish Government within its lawful powers and refrain from partisan gestures that endanger Scotland’s reputation for fairness.

Why We Need You to Act

Words matter. The rhetoric of leaders shapes public opinion, influences community relations, and affects the safety of Jews in Scotland and beyond. When falsehoods are allowed to stand unchallenged, they corrode trust, embolden extremists, and make our communities less safe.

We are asking all our supporters to write to their MSPs and the First Minister to express their concerns. Together, we must send a clear and unified message: terrorism is never resistance, Israel has the right to defend itself, and Scotland must not be complicit in spreading dangerous distortions.

To make this easier, we have prepared a model letter you can adapt and send. Please add your voice—because silence in the face of such accusations is not an option.

To:
Rt Hon John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland. [email protected]

Dear First Minister

I am writing to you as a concerned member of the public regarding your recent statements in Holyrood and the decision to fly the Palestinian flag above St Andrew’s House.

While I recognise the terrible suffering of civilians in Gaza, I was deeply troubled by your assertion of a “prima facie case of genocide in Gaza.” This is a grave allegation that carries specific meaning in international law under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948). No competent international tribunal has found Israel guilty of such a crime. To use this term politically risks inflaming division, fuelling antisemitism, and undermining Scotland’s credibility on the world stage.

I am also concerned that these actions fail to acknowledge the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, when 1,200 Israelis were brutally murdered and more than 250 hostages taken. Israel, like any sovereign democracy, has the inherent right of self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Its military actions are directed at Hamas — a proscribed terrorist organisation under UK law — not at the Palestinian people.

Furthermore, decisions such as banning public funding for firms supplying Israel with arms or flying the Palestinian flag raise constitutional concerns. Foreign policy and defence are reserved matters under the Scotland Act 1998 and lie with the UK Government, not devolved administrations. Such symbolic and partisan gestures risk overstepping legal boundaries and alienating Scotland’s Jewish community at a time when antisemitism is already on the rise.

I urge you to:

1. Retract the claim that Israel is committing genocide, unless and until a competent international court makes such a finding.

2. Publicly acknowledge Hamas’s responsibility for initiating and perpetuating the current conflict.

3. Ensure that Scotland’s humanitarian contributions are impartial, non-political, and focused on alleviating suffering.

4. Exercise balance and responsibility in government statements, so that all communities in Scotland feel safe and represented.

Terrorism must never be disguised as “resistance.” The deliberate murder of civilians is an affront to human dignity and the rule of law. I ask you to ensure that Scotland’s voice does not lend legitimacy to such distortions.

Yours sincerely,

Click Here To Send The Letter