Moray branch of Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign hold demonstration outside Douglas Ross’ office
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MEMBERS of a pro-Palestine group have urged Moray MP Douglas Ross to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The Moray branch of the Scottish Palestine and Solidarity Campaign held a demonstration outside Mr Ross’ constituency office in Forres on Friday.
The group sent an open letter to the MP on March 18 but they say they have not had a response.
Owen Dempsey, a spokesperson for the group, said: “Douglas Ross has not agreed to meet with us despite the humanitarian disaster in Gaza unfolding in view of the whole world, with innocents being both bombed and intentionally starved to death so we have sent an open letter to him signed by 148 constituents, but he has failed to reply.”
The letter reads: “Many of us have tried to engage with you regarding the ongoing genocide taking place in Gaza, but your silence is deafening.”
It adds: “By failing to demand a ceasefire, by arming Israel, bombing Yemen, and defunding UNRWA, we believe the UK government is, not only complicit with, but actively engaging in the act of genocide.
“We call on you, urgently, in the light of the evidence and the historic ICJ ruling on the plausibility of a genocide in Gaza, to call for an immediate permanent ceasefire, to call for an embargo on sales of military equipment to Israel, and to hold the apartheid Israeli government to account.”
Approximately 1200 people were killed following attacks by Hamas in Israel on October 7 last year.
Subsequent Israeli attacks have killed over 30,000 people in Gaza with the conflict ongoing.
Mr Ross says he has not been “silent” on the issue.
He added that the group did not request to meet him in their letter but that he is happy to do so.
He said: “The aftermath of the barbaric terrorist attacks by Hamas has resulted in unimaginable heartache, devastation and tragedy across the region and an appalling loss of life.
“I continue to support every effort to deliver aid to those innocent civilians caught up in this conflict and I share the grave concerns raised by people across Moray.
“However, any ceasefire must be permanent and not merely allow terrorists to regroup.
“The letter was signed by a number of constituents who have also contacted me separately and they have had responses from me.
“While they may not share my position, it is not correct to say I have been silent on this issue.
“There was also no request for a meeting in the open letter but I am happy to meet the group to discuss the ongoing situation with them.”
