THE First Minister has urged the UK Government to hold Israel to account and described their repeated refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire as “shameful”.
Humza Yousaf said the UK Government must make clear that Israeli action in Gaza has “gone way beyond a legitimate response” to the Hamas attack of October 7.
The FM urged the UK Government to hold Israel to account and described their repeated refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire as “shameful”.
Yousaf has said UK ministers should use their position as a trusted ally of Israel to demand an end to the “indiscriminate attacks” that have seen thousands of Palestinians killed.
READ MORE: Met Police releases statement after Prince Andrew reported over Epstein files
It has now been 10 weeks since Israel invaded Gaza following the attack by Hamas on October 7.
The United Nationals has expressed concern that up to 1.9 million people have been displaced and are moving into smaller areas of Gaza.
“The time has come for the UK Government to speak out forcefully and make it clear that Israeli action has gone way beyond a legitimate response to the appalling Hamas attack of October 7,” Yousaf said.
“Hearing comments from an Israeli Government Minister urging displacement of Palestinians from Gaza is deeply disturbing and should be universally condemned.
“Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will be part of a future Palestinian state - Gazans should not be subject to forcible displacement or relocation from Gaza.
“The UK Government must make clear that Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli Ministers and military commanders will be held accountable for the killing of thousands of innocent civilians and the deaths of tens of thousands more from starvation and disease if Israel does not immediately cease indiscriminate attacks and allow aid to enter Gaza on the scale needed to avert a humanitarian disaster.”
Yousaf added that Hamas leaders must also be held accountable for the “appalling attacks” against Israeli civilians on October 7.
“Talk of a sustainable ceasefire from the UK Government has made no difference on the ground, as the situation has worsened for the people of Gaza,” the FM said.
READ MORE: Scots university facing calls to strip Michelle Mone of honorary doctorate
“The UK Government must use its voice and influence to stop the killing – directly with the Israeli government, and indirectly with the US.”
It comes as the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) for Palestinian Refugees has warned that 40% of the population of Gaza is now at risk of famine due to “catastrophic hunger”.
And, the latest Integrated food security Phase Classification (IPC) brief shows Gaza is experiencing a food security emergency driven by ongoing hostilities.
Westminster politicians have come under fire for suggesting “humanitarian pauses” over a full ceasefire in Gaza.
On Friday, UK Labour leader Keir Starmer (above) said that Israel alone should not be allowed to decide what happens to Gaza after the war with Hamas is over, calling for international involvement and called for a “humanitarian truce” in fighting.
“We cannot have Israeli occupation, we cannot have people displaced who cannot go back to where they came, because two million have been displaced in the last four months, that is intolerable,” Starmer said.
“I don’t think, frankly, it is for Israel to determine what happens in Gaza. There has got to be much more international agreement on this, otherwise it simply isn’t going to work.”
READ MORE: Scottish Greens LGBT wing criticises SNP for Brian Souter dinner
Earlier, the Israeli defence minister said that the country’s forces would shift to a scaled down “new combat approach” in northern Gaza. Yoav Gallant said Israeli forces would continue to fight Hamas in the south of the territory “for as long as necessary”.
He also outlined a proposal for how Gaza would be run once Hamas is defeated, with Israel keeping security control while an undefined, Israeli-guided Palestinian body runs day-to-day administration.
Gallant said the US and other countries would oversee rebuilding in a document entitled a “Vision for Phase 3” of the war. His office said the phase had not yet begun, and the ideas were his and not official policy, which would have to be set by Israel’s war and security cabinets.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel