Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, used her allotted time to respond to a statement by Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan to criticise an upcoming debate on Gaza.
Gallacher, former deputy leader for the Tories under Douglas Ross, said at the beginning of her question: “I do welcome that the Scottish Government is discussing an issue which is actually devolved to this parliament, in a week where we are spending three hours of valuable parliamentary time discussing foreign affairs.”
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Gallagher’s comments prompted groans from what appeared to be the SNP benches.
On Wednesday, First Minister John Swinney is set to deliver a statement in the chamber on Palestine, followed by a debate.
MSPs will then have the opportunity to debate a motion brought forward by External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson, which reads: “That the Parliament agrees with the recognition of the State of Palestine and that peace in the region must be pursued by all.”
However, Gallacher was clearly not pleased that this is set to take up several hours of parliamentary time.
“The issues for discussion are very important to the people of Scotland. They should be heard in this Parliament.”
The parliamentary debate comes as hospitals in Gaza said at least 31 people were killed by Israeli fire on Monday, more than half of them women and children.
Israel has launched another series of attacks on the Gaza Strip, while leading genocide scholars joined other rights groups in accusing Israel of genocide, allegations it vehemently rejects.
The UK Government has been repeatedly criticised for its inaction, and has suggested that it may recognise a Palestinian State in the coming months, following in the footsteps of France.
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And, on Monday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar had a speech in Glasgow interrupted by a pro-Palestine protester, who urged him to call the crisis in Gaza a genocide, which he did publicly for the first time.
Elsewhere, five members of campaign group Defend Our Juries were arrested under the Terrorism Act after having their homes raided by police.
The arrests came ahead of a press conference where the campaign group were due to set out how they were going to take “mass action” against the Palestine Action ban.
