Summary
Scottish Greens representative Holly Bruce calls for Glasgow City Council to take action against Israel ahead of a football match at Hampden Park.
Bruce’s motion condemns Israel’s actions in Gaza and calls for the suspension of Israel from qualifiers, sparking controversy ahead of the game on May 31.
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Green councillor in bid to suspend Israel team ahead of Scotland match
Holly Bruce, a Scottish Greens representative for Langside in Glasgow, has put forward a motion to Glasgow City Council calling on the administration to take action ahead of the game – due to take place later this month.
The councillor says that since Russia was not permitted to participate in several major global tournaments following its invasion of Ukraine, Israel should face the same consequences for the “collective punishment” of Gaza.
Israel and Scotland’s teams are set to meet on Friday, May 31, at Hampden Park.
In a motion due to be debated at Glasgow’s City Chambers this Thursday, Bruce [below] referenced the administration’s emergency motion calling for a ceasefire. That motion condemned both acts of terrorism committed by Hamas in Israel and the Israeli military’s bombardment of Gaza.
The new motion sets out to reaffirm the council’s solidarity with “all victims, their families and communities of the ongoing siege of Gaza and related violence”.
It goes on to express concern that hosting Israel at Hampden Park while conflict continues “ould not align” with the Government and council’s calls for a ceasefire.
“Council commends the work of the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee on their Show Israeli Genocide the Red Card campaign which has highlighted the gross injustices faced by Palestinians in football and which is calling for sporting bodies to take action,” it continues.
Bruce’s motion then calls on council leader Susan Aitken (above) to write to Fifa and Uefa requesting for Israel to be suspended from the qualifiers.
“Council requests that the council leader also writes to the Scottish FA, Hampden Park and Greater Glasgow Police seeking assurance that Glaswegians who wish to protest on May 31 will be treated fairly and proportionally and that spectators and footballers wishing to show solidarity with Palestine on the May 31 are able to do so peacefully,” it adds.
Glasgow City Council has been contacted for comment.
The meeting comes after Israel’s inclusion in this week’s Eurovision Grand Final sparked boycotts.
Israel’s competitor Eden Golan performed her song Hurricane in the final, which was reworked from a previous track called October Rain. It was thought to reference the Hamas attacks on Israel that sparked the onslaught of Gaza, which has now seen around 35,000 people killed.
Golan faced loud jeers and boos from the audience, and people also shouting “Free Palestine”.
She finished in fifth place after receiving an audience score of 323 points, including 12 points from the United Kingdom’s public vote.