Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, has welcomed the Gaza ceasefire deal but urged all sides to “abide by the terms of the agreement”. His statement came after US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the “first phase” of a plan involving a pause in hostilities and the release of hostages and prisoners.
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Mr Swinney, speaking on Thursday, reiterated his long-standing call for a two-state solution that allows Palestinians and Israelis to “live safely, side by side”. He said: “I want to welcome the news that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan for Gaza. I call on all sides to abide by the terms of the agreement, for the release of all hostages and for the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. After more than two years of devastating brutality and loss of life, this will bring a moment of relief for many here in Scotland and across the world.”
His predecessor, Humza Yousaf, also acknowledged the role President Trump played in securing the deal, while remaining critical of US support for Israel during the conflict. He likened the situation to “handing an arsonist petrol and matches, then expecting praise for putting out the fire”. Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Mr Yousaf said credit should also go to Qatar for its mediation efforts despite having recently come under attack. “I accept genuinely that Donald Trump has had a role, but let’s not forget that his administration has also provided billions in funding to support Israel’s military actions,” he said.
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Hamas is expected to release the remaining 20 hostages it holds, while Israel will free several Palestinian prisoners as part of the initial phase. Mr Yousaf, whose wife Nadia El-Nakla has family in Gaza, described the immense sense of hope felt among residents. “You can imagine what it must feel like for every Gazan — even the remotest possibility of being able to have food, water and bread after months of starvation is beyond words,” he said. “They deserve hope after everything they have endured. For people who have lived through two years of unimaginable violence, the chance simply to sleep without fear of the next explosion is priceless.”
