Two people have been arrested after pro-Palestine activists confronted Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of “facilitating genocide” in Gaza.
Footage emerged on social media showing the Labour Party leader as he arrived at Glasgow Central Station. He was met by a group of activists with Palestine flags.
Sir Keir voted against a ceasefire in Gaza, prompting many local Labour councillors, mainly from Muslim communities, to denounce the leader. The war between Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza, is believed to have killed more than 16,500 Palestinians.
The Labour leader faced a backlasg after an interview with LBC. In it he claimed “Israel has the right” to withhold power and water from Palestinian civilians.
A majority of victims have been women and children. Starvation and water-borne illnesses are becoming widespread among makeshift camps in Palestine.
As Sir Keir arrived, one protester shouted: “Keir Starmer you are facilitating Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Stop the massacre of over 7,000 babies. Freedom for Palestine, stop the genocide. You’re responsible for killing babies in Gaza.”
Another shouted: “Starmer, why did you vote for continued genocide?”
While others shouted: “War criminal” and “You should be in prison”.
After Sir Keir got into a Range Rover, activists surrounded it shouting “child murderer”. The protest continued outside the Crowne Plaza, where Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also came in for criticism from protesters “for supporting genocide”.
Footage filmed on a train earlier, showed a passenger confronting Sir Keir over the “slaughter” of 7,000 Palestinian children. The passenger can be seen saying: “Keir, how many more children in Palestine have to die before you call for a ceasefire?
“Over 7,000 children have died. Over 7,000 children have been slaughtered by Israel. This is unacceptable.
“What happened to human rights? What happened to democracy?”.
The man goes on to say “20,000 people have died”, and asks: “Where is your humanity?”.
A Police Scotland spokesperson: “We are aware of an ongoing protest at a premises on Congress Road, Glasgow, and an earlier protest in the Gordon Street area of the city.
“Officers are in attendance at Congress Road and engaging with the crowd. Two people have been arrested in connection with assaulting police officers at Congress Road and inquiries are ongoing.
“There have been no reports of any injuries at either protest.”
