Dr Zubir Ahmed, MP for Glasgow South West, has been appointed as a health minister in the latest UK government reshuffle following the resignation of Angela Rayner. In an interview with Holyrood magazine published days before his appointment, he asserted that some members of the Israeli government hold genocidal intent in Gaza. The government has been reluctant to describe the Gaza crisis as genocide.

He said the arc of the conflict has moved into places he never expected to see in a Western democracy, and that individuals in the Israeli leadership may be indicted by the International Criminal Court. He described the diplomatic position as unprecedented.

Ahmed said he would have travelled to Gaza with Medical Aid for Palestinians before the last election if the Rafah crossing had not been closed two weeks earlier. He added that he feels relatively powerless even while holding a position of authority, emphasising that there is no single military solution the UK government can enact. The government has been contacted for comment.