Every Thursday afternoon since the October 7 massacre by Hamas in 2023 a group of Scottish Jews has gathered silently outside Holyrood to sanctify the memory of the Jewish hostages taken that day and to ensure that Scotland’s politicians remember them too. Kevin McKenna meets them as hopes rise that peace could be on its way

Perhaps you could call them the Vigilites. Every Thursday afternoon since the October 7 massacre by Hamas in 2023 they have gathered silently outside Holyrood. Their shared purpose is to sanctify the memory of the Jewish hostages taken that day and to ensure that Scotland’s politicians remember them too.

They are drawn mainly from Scotland’s far-flung Jewish communities, but there are Christians here, too, determined to show solidarity and compassion with people who are still traumatised by the mass murder and torture that occurred two years ago. They have formed their own little community and lifelong friendships have been made.

Today, there is a feeling of optimism approaching joy. Today, they sense that the remaining 48 hostages held by Hamas - living and dead – will soon be returned as the first phase of Donald Trump’s Gaza peace deal has been agreed jointly by Hamas and Israel’s government. There have been tears and hugs and an unspoken acknowledgement that this could be the last time they gather together in this place.

There’s also palpable anger and hurt at how contemptuous they feel Scotland’s party of government has been towards them. And of how quickly the plight of the hostages and the savagery with which they were taken has been almost entirely erased.

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Sammy Stein and........

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