Elizabeth Robertson on one year of Middle East atrocities

No ceasefire. Actions and reactions in Lebanon and Iran. Powerful people influencing, or not, other powerful people. To what end and to whose ultimate gain?

In the face of momentous global conflict – of political, diplomatic, and humanitarian crises in Palestine and Israel – I feel small, and I feel helpless. I do not know enough. What can I do?

I do not personally want to be any more physically proximate to the conflict – being in Greenock feels relatively safe. But despite the selfishness of my safety, there is a real yearning to help, a deep desire to do whatever can be done to make this stop.

I have said before that, for me, this starts and ends with a simple message: please, stop killing innocent children. Throughout this year I have learned a bit more, read a bit more, and understand a bit more, but my start and my end points remain unchanged. Please, stop killing innocent children.

Israel has stepped up its attacks on Lebanon as it targets Hezbollah. (Image: Bilal Hussein/AP) The smallness can be alleviated by being with other people. The helplessness can be alleviated by finding out what can be done to help.

Throughout this year, in Inverclyde, people have come together and have helped. Every Saturday at 2pm, a vigil has been held – and will be, until a ceasefire is reached. People gather at Kempock Street in Gourock, holding a two-minute silence, and raising awareness of the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. We hold signs highlighting the plight of injustice in these parts of the Middle East.

Throughout the year the group has raised around £7,000 which has been sent to MAP – Medical Aid for Palestinians, an organisation which works for ‘a future where every Palestinian has access to a comprehensive, effective and locally-led system of healthcare, and the full realisation of their rights to health and dignity.’

People stop and talk. They often say thank you. They donate money. Some people are angry.

READ MORE: Inverclyde Group for Gaza demands 'an end to the massacre of innocents'

What about the Israelis? On these occasions, sometimes there are conversations. We do not agree with Hamas. We do not want Israeli children to be killed.

The Amos Trust emphasise why we meet and why we will meet until there is a ceasefire: “October 7 will be remembered for the destruction and hatred unleashed on Gaza that has left 40,000 dead, 10,000 missing, 100,000 injured, two million displaced and so much destruction.”

This is not an equal fight. The power is not even remotely shared equally in this conflict. Neither are the consequences in loss of life and community devastation.

The Inverclyde Group for Gaza holds vigils in Kempock Street in Gourock every Saturday afternoon. (Image: Alex Craig) In Inverclyde, we have also had valuable opportunities for information and education around history and geopolitics within the Middle East. Until this year, I had never been confronted with the historical maps relating to the proposed, revised, decided, and then evolving geography of Israel’s establishment in 1948, which also shows the consequential geographic changes for Palestine. I would urge anyone interested in this conflict to take time to look at these maps.

I felt the injustice, but when I looked at the maps, I saw it. I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to learn more about the history of the situation, in order to better understand the present reality. October 7 was not the start of the conflict.

As Steph Paton wrote this week in The National: “With the renewed focus on October 7, it behoves all world leaders and Western press to remember that, as much as we acknowledge that a year has passed since the attack on Israel, we must note too that Palestine’s suffering existed before that date, as it has continued to exist every night and day since.”

Elizabeth Robertson is the SNP group leader on Inverclyde Council. (Image: Archive) When the helplessness creeps in, know that standing in solidarity with suffering is never the wrong thing to do.

We will welcome you to stand with us any Saturday – for as long as it takes to reach a place of peace.