As people in this country awakened on Saturday 7th October, we learned of the barbaric atrocities that were starting to take place in Israel by the terrorist thugs, Hamas.
In the morning, the Hamas butchers made their way past the perimeter fence at Gaza and entered into the territory of Israel including on motorbikes and paragliders.
It is hard to find the words to describe the human catastrophe that unfolded as the terrorists made their way from Gaza to Southern Israel and murdered Israeli’s at home in cold blood.
They forcibly removed innocent civilians including women, children, elderly and disabled people from Israel and dragged them into Gaza with some of those murdered having their bodies abused and paraded through the streets.
At the time of writing this column, one week before the publication date, it has been confirmed that more than 1000 people in Israel have so far been murdered in the appalling attacks.
Amongst the dead are 260 individuals who were simply dancing and enjoying themselves at a peaceful music festival. Worse still an as yet unquantified number brutally massacred as they slept in their village.
The acts of premeditated terror against Israel have caused barely describable grief and anguish in Eastwood and for our Jewish community.
It was tragically confirmed that Bernard Cowan, who previously lived in Newton Mearns, was one of the people murdered by Hamas on Saturday.
Bernard moved to Israel where he lived with his wife and three children.
I understand that Bernard regularly returned to Scotland and visited the peace advocacy stall hosted by the Glasgow Friends of Israel in the city centre.
Our heartfelt condolences to Bernard’s family as we respect their privacy in their grief.
His death brings home the closeness of the barbarous atrocities to Eastwood and many Jewish people who live locally are incredibly concerned for the welfare of family and friends in Israel.
I have published an open letter to all members of the local Jewish Community so there is no doubt that I stand unequivocally with you and the State of Israel in the face of the heinous attacks.
If any Jewish constituent needs my help or support, please do not hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]
Amongst other actions, I have been in regular contact with the Israeli Embassy in London and I also made representation to the local police leadership in East Renfrewshire.
In view of previous experience, when situations in Israel have been acute, local Jewish residents will be anxious at the possibility of those tensions having repercussions here.
All must be done to reassure, protect and safeguard the Jewish community.
The response I received from the local police leadership was immediately reassuring and characteristically proactive with various meetings taking place.
In the 75th anniversary year of the State of Israel, it is beyond comprehension that on Saturday 7th October, more Jewish people were murdered than on any other single day since the horrors of the Holocaust.
This point illustrates with devastating clarity both the barbarism and depravity of the Hamas terrorists.
I stand fully with Israel and the country’s right to self-defence.
