Twenty Scottish mothers have launched a hunger strike in protest against what they call the UK Government’s complicity in the unfolding genocide in Gaza. Under the banner “Mothers Against Genocide Scotland”, they have begun rolling 48-hour fasts to highlight the humanitarian catastrophe and to demand immediate international action to end Israel’s siege and protect civilians.

Their protest comes amid alarming UN warnings that up to 14,000 babies in Gaza could die of starvation within days due to Israel’s blockade, which has devastated the Strip’s food, health, and water systems. “This is about saving lives,” said Sarah, a co-founder of the initiative, urging others across the UK to join their fast and pressure political leaders into action.

For many participants, the strike is deeply personal. Marianne, a mother from South Queensferry, said she fasts for Palestinian mothers enduring unimaginable grief. Cat, a mother of three, accused the UK Government of enabling Israeli atrocities through silence. “Their silence is complicity. If they do nothing, they have blood on their hands,” she declared. May, another protester, reflected on Gaza’s staggering death toll: “May the names of Gaza’s children fill the skies and move us to action.”

The group has appealed to Scottish MSPs to pressure Westminster into ending support for Israeli military operations. Organiser Aisling called on Labour representatives to confront their party leadership, accusing them of moral cowardice in the face of mass civilian suffering.

With over 53,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023 — most of them women and children — and famine now looming, these mothers have taken a stand for justice and humanity. Their message is clear: this is not a regional issue, but a global emergency that demands an urgent moral response.