I HAD intended to focus on the domestic politics of Scotland in my column but quite frankly there is no greater issue in the world right now than the plight of the Palestinian people and bringing an end to the absolutely horrendous conflict that still rages in that land.

Strangely enough I write this as the president of the United States deems it appropriate to arrive in my region of South Scotland to play golf at one of his many courses. It looks like he might pay lip service to the First Minister and Prime Minister whilst he is here but nonetheless I find the presence of this individual in Scotland particularly distasteful as his country goes out of its way to arm and support the genocidal activity of Israel.

I receive constituent correspondence every single day in every form you can imagine about this issue.

Scots are disgusted by what they are seeing and that is only a fraction of what has gone on. We can be sure of this as journalists have been stopped from entering the besieged strip and those that are already there can barely stand due to severe malnutrition. Even the traditionally right-wing Daily Express has this week dedicated its front page to ending the madness of this war.

When I was growing up the general view (naive as it was) was that never again would we allow the horrors of genocide.

That the international community would prevent such abhorrent actions. That this was a thing of the past that was allowed to fester through secrecy and suppression of information.

Well now there are cameras everywhere, lightning-fast communication, and yet it is happening all over again. There is no excuse, everyone knows exactly what is going on. Failure to act makes us complicit as a country and it is to my eternal shame that many people in positions of power have taken the easy route of simply saying as little as possible.

I will never be that kind of politician. I believe it is my duty to be clear about these crimes so that those who elected me know their voice is being heard in the Scottish Parliament. I am well aware of just how impotent we are to stop this genocide as MSPs, but that should not mean we fail to use every ounce of influence we have to make it clear that these atrocities are not in our name.

Thankfully there are others too who agree, from all parties, but that collective voice must be louder.

We have to build the international pressure against Netanyahu’s regime from council level all the way to the United Nations.

This week the community-owned island of Eigg committed itself to the strategy of BDS against Israeli products and services. They should be applauded and I hope more communities and local authorities will do the same where possible.

There are some promising developments internationally too. President Macron revealed that he will move for France to recognise the state of Palestine officially.

While this is simple decency and something that should have happened long ago it is very important that such a major global economy and diplomatic power is willing to take this step. The fact the United Kingdom is yet to do so, despite a majority Labour government, is something I deeply regret. I believe we must use this opportunity to strive for peace and reconciliation and that can only hope to be achieved once Palestine has the same recognition all sovereign states should have.

Palestinians have the right to statehood, to a life free from fear, but at the moment many simply need food and clean water.

The Israeli government has even gone out of its way to prevent that. Women, children, and the seriously ill have been shot or blown up in cold blood at aid stations.

There are often attempts to call these massacres accidents but anyone who has followed Israel’s general policy towards the welfare of Palestinians for decades knows this is absolutely deliberate and targeted.

The idea that any UK-manufactured weapons or indeed aid could be used to carry out such acts is unconscionable. Even ardent Tories are disgusted by our complicity in these events.

There is no war left to fight. Gaza is destroyed, the West Bank has once again been turned into an open air prison — and yet Israel refuses to allow even the slightest suggestion of salvation for thousands of innocent people who have done nothing more than simply be unfortunate enough to be born in Palestine.

All of us have seen the images of babies and mothers emaciated and on the brink of death. How can anyone stand by as this goes on?

One thing I can say for certain, Scotland has had enough.

Carol Mochan is a Labour MSP for South Scotland.