HOLLYWOOD actor Alan Cumming has backed The National’s fundraising campaign for Medical Aid for Palestinians.

So far, the fundraiser has raised more than £80,000 since launching on Saturday.

After surpassing the initial £15,000 goal, the target has been repeatedly stretched thanks to the generosity of The National’s readers in Scotland and further afield.

Cumming posted The National’s fundraising campaign on his Instagram story on Wednesday.

It comes after he criticised the actions of the UK Government in the wake of attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi forces, who were acting in support of Palestine. 

In response to the attacks the UK sent warships to the Red Sea to try and protect trade routes.

However, during an appearance on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Cumming contrasted the immediacy of the UK’s reaction to trade disruption with its response to Israel’s killing of civilians in Gaza.

READ MORE: First Minister Humza Yousaf backs The National's Gaza fundraiser

He said: “I find it hard to countenance the idea that we take action when our economy and shipping routes are being threatened, rather than taking it for compassionate reasons at the beginning of the attack on Israel & the war in Gaza.

“That to me is the sort of sign of where our politicians are at."

It comes as humanitarian organisations continue to highlight the difficulty of getting aid into Gaza, where Israeli forces have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians since Hamas’ attacks on October 7.

Please, if you can, donate to our fundraiser for Medical Aid for Palestinians - our target is now £100,000.