Swinney calls for ‘unity over division’ on October 7 anniversary

Climate Crisis / 6 October 2026 Protesters depict ‘heaven’ and ‘hell’ futures as they call on PM to reject new oil and gas fields 6 October 2026 Climate / 6 October 2026 Environmental questions raised by new road building proposals for Wales 6 October 2026 Economy / 6 October 2026 Target income support to help vulnerable with cost-of-living crisis, IMF says 6 October 2026 Race / 6 October 2026 Police up to 22 times more likely to use ‘completely useless’ stop-searches on black people 6 October 2026 Far Right / 6 October 2026 Man charged after Gosport protest against arrival of small boat migrants 6 October 2026 Healthcare / 6 October 2026 Private dental patients facing ‘broken’ complaints system, Which? warns 6 October 2026 JOHN SWINNEY called for “unity over division” today on the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks as campaigners take to the streets to remember those slaughtered since.

Remembering the 1,200 Israelis killed and 251 taken hostage three years ago, the First Minister said: “As we remember all those who lost their lives on October 7 and in the conflict since, we do so in equal condemnation of terror and violence, and in the belief that compassion must prevail over hatred, unity over division and peace over violence.”

While Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra posted on X to say “we must stand against antisemitism and work for lasting peace,” a Three Years of Genocide rally was already under way at the University of Glasgow organised by its Justice for Palestine Society. 

Posting on social media ahead of the rally, the society made clear: “It has been three years of ongoing genocide with over 300,000 Palestinians killed by Israel.

“We will continue to speak up and resist our university’s complicity. Our demands are clear and we will never tire from this fight. Divestment now.”

Middle East / 6 October 2026 Gaza three years on: ‘a grim milestone’ 6 October 2026 Israelis and Palestinians to mark three years since October 7 Hamas attack and beginning of the Gaza genocide