The Scottish National Party (SNP) is under fire after Dundee City Council, led by the party, approved a contentious motion expressing solidarity with Gaza—a move critics argue implicitly endorses Hamas.
The motion, passed on Monday, called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and condemned "all violence against civilians." However, opposition councillors accused the SNP of failing to explicitly denounce Hamas, the militant group responsible for the October 7 attacks on Israel.
Political Backlash
Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Golden slammed the motion as "deeply irresponsible," arguing it risked legitimising Hamas. "This sends a dangerous message at a time when the UK government has designated Hamas as a terrorist organisation," he said.
Labour councillors also expressed concerns, with one stating the motion "lacked balance" by not acknowledging Hamas's role in the conflict.
SNP Defends Motion
SNP councillors defended the decision, insisting the motion focused on humanitarian concerns. "Our priority is the innocent civilians suffering in Gaza," said Dundee Council leader John Alexander. "This is not about taking sides but calling for peace."
The controversy comes amid heightened tensions in UK politics over the Israel-Hamas war, with several councils facing similar debates.
