
John Swinney demands ‘urgent international action' after aid convoy attack
The Scottish First Minister insisted: 'Reports that those seeking what little aid is permitted to enter Gaza face violence and death at the hands of the Israeli government demands urgent international action.'
This statement @WFP is unbearable to read. The international community must require the Israeli Government to stop these attacks and there must be a ceasefire now to allow humanitarian aid to flow. https://t.co/sALpZfp2Ql
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) July 21, 2025
His comments came as the UN World Food Programme told how its 25-truck convoy 'carrying vital food assisted' for 'starving communities in northern Gaza' had come 'under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire'.
In a statement after the incident on Sunday July 20, it said: 'We are deeply concerned and saddened by this tragic incident resulting in the loss of countless lives.'
Mr Swinney said that that was 'unbearable to read'.
He insisted: 'The international community must require the Israeli Government to stop these attacks and there must be a ceasefire now to allow humanitarian aid to flow.'
The First Minister made the demands as he wrote in a letter how a recent attack on the only Catholic church in Gaza had brought the 'horror of the situation painfully close to home'.
Mr Swinney and his wife Elizabeth met the priest from the Holy Family Church in Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli, in Glasgow last year.
I am deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in #Gaza. I assure the parish community of my spiritual closeness. I commend the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, and pray for…
— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) July 17, 2025
Father Romanelli was injured when an explosion hit the front of the church, killing three people and leaving others seriously injured.
Pope Leo XIV has already said he was 'deeply saddened' by the 'military attack' on the church.
And in a letter to Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and leading Catholic authority in the area, Mr Swinney told how people across Scotland are 'moved with both distress and anger at the unimaginable suffering facing the people of Gaza'.
The First Minister told Cardinal Pizzabella: 'The heart-breaking reality of the situation in Gaza is that this tragedy, that has taken the lives of three of your parishioners, is but one of an untold number of tragedies that has come to pass in the region since October 7 2023.'
Mr Swinney continued: 'That the people of Gaza can not even find peace and sanctuary within the confines of their place of worship beings me real pain.'
He told the Cardinal that he would 'pray for the families of the dead, for the injured and for lasting peace in Gaza'.
But Mr Swinney also pledged: 'The government I will lead will continue to do everything it can to help achieve a ceasefire in the region.'
The First Minister's comments came as he noted that 'over 55,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began', adding that 'many more are being starved of food, water and humanitarian aid'.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
STEPHEN GLOVER: The pensions 'triple lock' must end. It pains me to say it, but Britain is no longer a rich nation and we can't afford it
When will Labour wake up to the fact that this country is living way beyond its means? Until it does, the rest of us will continue to inhabit a fool's paradise. Last month alone the Government borrowed nearly £21 billion – far more than most analysts expected and £6.6 billion more than in June last year. It is all but certain that taxes, already at a peacetime high, will go up again, and significantly, in October's Budget.

South Wales Argus
18 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Afonydd Cymru welcomes report into Welsh river pollution
The Independent Water Commission's review, led by Sir John Cunliffe, was recently released, addressing failures in the water sector across England and Wales and aiming to restore public trust. The report acknowledges the unique legislative and policy needs of Wales, as water management is a devolved issue. Afonydd Cymru, a representative body for Welsh rivers, has welcomed the report's recognition of these differences, as the recommendations will now be considered by the Welsh Government rather than Westminster. The report calls for more strategic direction from the Welsh Government across the whole water sector, not just the water industry. It points out that pollution from all sectors, especially agriculture in Wales, needs to be resolved to restore rivers. The report challenges favourable comparisons between Wales and England regarding the state of rivers, stating that claims of 43 per cent of Wales's water bodies being in 'Good Ecological Status' and 90 per cent in 'Good Chemical Status' may not be accurate. This discrepancy is attributed to less stringent assessments by Natural Resources Wales compared to the Environment Agency in England, according to Afonydd Cymru. The report recommends tighter regulation of sewage sludge spreading on farmland, a move welcomed by Afonydd Cymru. The sludge contains nutrients, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals, which can end up in rivers. This change aligns with calls for regulating the spreading of digestate in Wales. One major recommendation is the creation of a new economic regulator for water, a move already initiated by the Westminster Government with the announcement of Ofwat's abolition. In Wales, the Deputy First Minister has also stated that there will be a new economic regulator for water, although further details are yet to be announced. However, the report was criticised for its lack of a clear plan for cross-border rivers, recommending their management be split along borders. Afonydd Cymru argues that rivers like the Severn, Dee, and Wye would be better managed on a catchment basis. The Welsh Government has stated it will take time to consider the full 465 pages and 88 recommendations of the report, which marks the most significant review of water management in 35 years.


South Wales Guardian
29 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Students risk falling through ‘qualifications gap' under post-16 plans
Many young people will be left 'without a suitable pathway' if funding is withdrawn for a number of applied general qualifications (AGQs), such as BTecs, and if the uptake of the Government's technical courses (T-levels) remains low, a coalition of education and employer groups has warned. A report by the Protect Student Choice campaign warned reducing student choice for post-16 qualifications risks 'reversing' progress in widening access to higher education and it could lead to more young people not in employment. The coalition – which includes organisations representing students and staff in colleges and schools – is calling on the curriculum and assessment review to recommend 'reversing the ban on AGQ diplomas and extended diplomas in T-level areas' in its final report which is due to be published in the autumn. AGQs are Level 3 qualifications, which include BTecs, for students who want to undertake a broad study of a specific vocational area. In December, the Labour Government announced 157 vocational qualifications, which the previous Conservative administration had planned to remove funding from, would be retained beyond July this year until reformed qualifications become more established in the system. Following a review of Level 3 qualifications that 'overlap' with T-levels, the Government said 57 qualifications in digital, construction and health and science would be funded until July 2026. A further 100 qualifications in engineering, agriculture, business and creative would retain their funding until July 2027. The first T-level courses – which are considered to be broadly equivalent to three A-levels – were launched in 2020 in England and they are being rolled out gradually. Department for Education (DfE) guidance, published in February, has outlined plans to remove funding from 'large qualifications' in a number of T-level subject areas in the future. An analysis from the Protect Student Choice campaign suggests there could be 52,000 fewer young people studying health and science courses each year if funding is removed for AGQs in this area, and it added that nearly 11,000 fewer young people could study digital courses each year. It said more than 200,000 students are currently studying AGQs that are 'either being scrapped or have an uncertain future' which makes it 'difficult' for colleges and schools to plan their curriculum, recruit and train the right staff, or to provide appropriate guidance to younger pupils. The report warned: 'We are deeply concerned that the Government's blanket ban on diplomas and extended diplomas will create a qualifications gap that tens of thousands of students will potentially fall through, leaving many young people without a suitable pathway in the future.' Labour MP Gareth Snell, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sixth Form Education, said: 'Sixth forms and colleges up and down the country know the vital role that AGQs play in helping students to progress to higher education or skilled employment. 'Limiting the choice of qualification in certain subjects to T-levels will leave some young people without a suitable pathway at the age of 16, and some employers without the skilled workforce they need.' Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said: 'Qualifications like the diploma and extended diploma in health and social care are highly valued by providers of adult social care in England as a source of introducing younger people to a career in social care. 'Scrapping these qualifications would close off a well-established pathway to entering the profession and exacerbate the workforce crisis in the care sector for a younger population we are keen to promote access to.' Anne Murdoch, college leadership adviser at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'We strongly urge the Government to retain these popular and valued applied general qualifications. 'We support the introduction of T-levels, but we do not understand why this must be at the expense of other tried and trusted vocational qualifications which work well for many students. 'At a time when we are seeing rising numbers of young people who are not in education, employment or training, it is surely essential that we provide a choice of post-16 pathways rather than narrowing their options and making matters worse.' A DfE spokeswoman said: 'Through our plan for change we are building a skills system that will drive forward opportunity and deliver the growth that our economy needs. 'T-levels will be at the forefront of our technical education offer. Alongside them, newly reformed qualifications will become available for delivery at Level 3 at the start of the next academic year. 'These are high-quality, aligned to occupational standards in technical routes and offer learners clear routes to higher education or skilled employment. 'The department's position on further plans for reform to Level 3 qualifications will be set out soon, informed by the independent curriculum and assessment review.'