SNP calls on Rishi Sunak to label Gaza shooting a war crime

The SNP has called on Rishi Sunak to condemn the shooting of an unarmed man holding a white flag in Gaza as a war crime.

It comes after a cameraman working for ITV News filmed the moment the civilian was shot dead.

ITV’s senior international correspondent John Irvine reported that the cameraman noticed a group of five males standing still, their hands up, one of them brandishing a white flag.

Among them was Ramzi Abu Sahloul, who told the cameraman: “Nowhere is safe in Gaza.

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Moment civilian brandishing white flag in Gaza ‘safe zone’ is shot dead

They are among hundreds of thousands of people hemmed in, with their backs to the Egyptian border.

“Everywhere you find the Israeli Army. They shoot at us at home, in any building and in the street.”

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister was pushed to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Speaking from the front bench, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to rise to that despatch box and tell the people of these isles and elsewhere that shooting an unarmed man, walking under a white flag is a war crime.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the House of Commons during PMQs on January 19, 2023 UK Parliament

“Now in recent weeks this House has acted with urgency and intent following an ITV drama, the question is will this House make sure the same urgency and intent following this ITV news report and finally back a ceasefire?”

The Prime Minister replied: “No one wants to see this conflict go on for a moment longer than is necessary and we do want to see an immediate and sustained humanitarian pause.”

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn at the House of Commons during PMQs on January 19, 2023 UK Parliament

Later in the session, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: “The next time there’s a vote at the UN for a ceasefire, will his representative vote for it?”

Sunak said: “Of course we will engage with all UN resolutions on their merits.”

In response to a request from ITV News, the IDF said it categorically denies any existence of “field executions”.

An IDF statement read: “It is imperative to emphasise that the alarming, libelous and a gross mischaracterisation of the war with these despicable accusations can only be deemed as an extension of Hamas’ propaganda effort to defame the IDF and undermine our objective to dismantle Hamas and ensure the terrorist entity never again holds the power to build a terrorist army, invade Israel, murder, burn, rape and abduct Israelis.”