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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Impact of Conflict in Gaza and Israel on Pregnant Women, Babies and Children

  • Submitted by: Rona Mackay, Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
  • Motion reference: S6M-11393

That the Parliament expresses grave concern at the reported suffering of pregnant women and newborn babies in the war-torn regions of Gaza and Israel; notes that the Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Men’s Violence Against Women and Children understands that around 4,000 pregnant women and their babies are unable to access basic prenatal and postnatal healthcare and support; further notes that the CPG supports the Parliament's call for an immediate ceasefire; is distressed at what it considers will be the inevitable loss of life on a tragic scale; expresses further extreme concern that the physical and mental impacts of this war and its associated trauma will, it believes, affect significant numbers of any surviving children for the rest of their lives; reflects with sadness that safe pregnancy, childbirth, infancy and childhood should be basic human rights, but that they can no longer be guaranteed in these war-torn areas; expresses deep gratitude to all individuals and agencies already engaging in the aid efforts and those working towards resolution in the most challenging of conditions; calls on the UK Government to do everything in its power to protect these precious lives and promote a swift and peaceful outcome to this conflict, and notes that the CPG has written to the UK Government and the British Medical Association (BMA) urging them to enable more medical supplies, and to support the engagement of more medics in this warzone urgently to alleviate what it sees as the inhumane suffering.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Clare Adamson, Colin Beattie, Stephanie Callaghan, Maggie Chapman, Katy Clark, Bob Doris, Christine Grahame, Emma Harper, Clare Haughey, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Ben Macpherson, Ivan McKee, Stuart McMillan, Pauline McNeill, Audrey Nicoll, Kaukab Stewart, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Evelyn Tweed, Mercedes Villalba