Swinney heckled at vigil for victims of Hamas attacks

Members of Scotland's Jewish community met to commemorate the victims of the 7 October attacks

First Minister John Swinney was heckled outside the Scottish Parliament on Sunday as he spoke at a vigil marking the second anniversary of the 7 October attacks on Israel.

Members of the crowd shouted "shame on you" as Swinney said he stood with them in remembering those who died when Hamas launched a series of attacks on Israel in 2023.

The first minister has previously described Israel's armed response in Gaza as "genocide" and said his government is pausing awards of public money to arms companies supplying Israel.

The Scottish government said Swinney had been clear that there was no place for antisemitism in society and said it was working with police to "ensure the safety of communities".

Sunday's event was organised by Glasgow Friends of Israel, the Jewish Council of Scotland and the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

The Scottish government said Swinney was invited to speak by two of the organising groups.

It is the second year a vigil has been held for the hostages in Gaza and the victims of the 7 October attacks.

A video recording which has been seen by the BBC shows Swinney being introduced to the crowd by one of the organisers, Sammy Stein of Glasgow Friends of Israel.

There are a small number of heckles from a member of the crowd at the start of the first minister's speech.

About three minutes in, Swinney says "I support the recognition of a Palestinian state" as part of what he calls "the necessary route to secure peace in the Middle East".

The crowd responds in anger and the first minister is drowned out with calls and chants of "shame on you".

He can be heard saying he came to "stand with you in remembrance of those who have lost their lives".

Speaking to BBC Scotland on Monday, Mr Stein said it was "completely unnecessary" for Swinney to talk about a Palestinian state at the event, as it was "not about the politics or the problems in the Middle East".

He added that it was wrong to talk about Palestinian statehood "when you're trying to remember the people killed by Hamas".

Mr Stein said current moves to recognition are "a reward to Hamas" and should have been contingent on a peace agreement and the release of hostages.

He said this was the "wrong time" for recognition, and that it had made life more difficult for Jewish people in Scotland.

David Lammy booed in Manchester

The vigil was held two days before the anniversary of the 7 October attacks in 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response, so far killing at least 67,139 people, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Most of Gaza's population has been repeatedly displaced and more than 90% of homes are estimated to be damaged or destroyed.

Israel has banned international journalists from entering Gaza independently since the start of the war, making verifying claims from both sides difficult.

Twenty-four months on, the military action is still ongoing.

Sunday's vigil was held just three days after a deadly attack outside a synagogue in Manchester.

On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was met with boos and chants of "shame on you" as he appeared at a vigil for victims of the Manchester attack.

The former foreign secretary was accused by some in the crowd of allowing antisemitism to increase during Labour's time in government.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was met with boos and chants of "shame on you" as he appeared at a vigil for victims of the Manchester synagogue attack

A Scottish government spokesperson said the first minister addressed the vigil to "stand in solidarity" with Jewish communities to condemn all violence towards Jewish people "and in memory of all those who lost their lives in the 7 October attacks and since".

The statement said: "He has been clear that there is no place for antisemitism in our society and stressed that the Scottish government and Police Scotland are working closely to ensure the safety of communities.

"The first minister also reiterated the Scottish government's longstanding call for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and that Israelis and Palestinians must be allowed to live safely side by side with long-lasting peace, prosperity, and security," it added.

The organisers of the vigil have been approached for comment by the BBC.