Events are being held across Scotland this weekend as the one-year anniversary of the latest conflict in the Middle East approaches.
Thousands attended a pro-Palestinian rally in Edinburgh calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to highlight the human consequences of Israel’s response to the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Smaller demonstrations also took place in Aberdeen and Inverness.
A vigil will be held in Glasgow on Sunday to commemorate the victims of the Hamas attacks on Israel.
The war began when Hamas gunmen attacked Israel on October 7 last year, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. A total of 97 hostages are still missing.
Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza, which has now killed at least 41,825 people, according to the Hamas-led Health Ministry.
Violence has spread to Lebanon in recent weeks.
Thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters marched from the foot of The Mound through central Edinburgh, waving the flags of both Palestine and Lebanon.
The organisers, Stop the War Coalition, are calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East and an end to British arms supplies to Israel.
One of those at the demonstration was Majdi Awwad from Tulkarm in the West Bank, who now lives in Edinburgh.
He said he feels “more hope” a year after the conflict, in part because the public is aware of the events.
He said: “All the people attending the meeting understand what is happening.
“Not everyone needs to be part of the story, but as long as they have a conscience and know what’s happening, it will be much better.”
Omar Afzal, who traveled from Glasgow to attend the event, said he was concerned the war was spreading further across the Middle East.
“It’s still very concerning and quite frankly we don’t see much light at the end of the tunnel at this point,” he said.
Prime Minister John Swinney has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to British arms exports to Israel.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “A ceasefire that lasts” must “happen now” in the Israel-Gaza conflict during a speech at the Scottish Labor conference in February.
Defense Minister John Healey said this earlier this week British troops were involved in supporting Israel after Iran launched ballistic missiles at the country.
The past week has seen a significant escalation of the crisis in the Middle East, with warnings that it could develop into an all-out regional war.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has been assassinated, Israel has launched a ground invasion of Lebanon and Iran has fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at targets across Israel.
The Prime Minister has told this to British citizens in Lebanon they must “leave now”, after a further escalation in the region.
