Humza Yousaf, the Scottish First Minister, has urged Britain to extend its support to Palestinian refugees, drawing a parallel to the assistance provided to Ukrainian refugees following the Russian invasion. On October 17, the First Minister revealed Scotland’s readiness to evacuate injured civilians from Gaza, offering hospital facilities for their medical needs and proposing a resettlement initiative for Gaza residents. This article focuses on exploring how the Scottish Government is aiding Gaza refugees.
Scottish Government’s request to Rishi Sunak
How is the Scottish Government aiding Gaza refugees? The Scottish Government has actively urged the UK government to assist Gaza refugees. First Minister Humza Yousaf suggested a month ago that Scottish hospitals could provide aid to Palestinian civilians. Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary also communicated with former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, advocating for the consideration of the UK government’s resettlement scheme to aid those fleeing the intensified conflict.
Letter from the Social Justice Secretary to Braverman
Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Social Justice Secretary, penned a letter to the former Home Secretary, urging the Government to aid refugees. In her message, she appealed for the utilisation of the existing UK Resettlement Scheme, collaborating with the UN High Commission for Refugees, to provide a pathway to safety for the most at-risk groups, including children, families, individuals with significant health requirements, and those connected to residents in Scotland.
The unjustifiable collective punishment of Palestinians
Humza Yousaf discussed the ongoing situation between Palestine and Israel at the SNP’s annual conference in Aberdeen. He expressed concern about Israel’s actions and collective punishment in Gaza, emphasising that harming and killing innocent civilians due to conflict cannot be justified. Yousaf also highlighted the plight of 2.2 million innocent individuals affected by the situation. Additionally, the Scottish Government’s efforts to aid Gaza refugees involve advocating for non-discriminatory refugee acceptance by the UK government and seeking fair treatment for those seeking refuge.
Britain should not discriminate in accepting immigrants.
The First Minister of Scotland emphasises that Britain should not discriminate between countries in accepting immigrants. Yousaf asked what he wanted to do in Britain: “The danger of losing our humanity must be met with more humanity. In the past, people in Scotland and across the UK have opened their hearts and homes and welcomed those from Syria, Ukraine and many other countries. We must do so again.” He called for urgent action by the British Government to set up a program for Palestinian refugees who are willing and able to leave Gaza.
Scotland is the first country to accept Palestinian immigrants.
Humza Yousaf emphasises that Scotland can be the first country to accept Palestinian immigrants. “Firstly, they should begin work on creating a refugee resettlement scheme for those in Gaza who want to and can leave. And when they do so, Scotland is willing to be the first country in the UK to offer safety and sanctuary to those caught up in these terrible attacks,” Yousaf said.
The reaction of the Israeli authorities to the positions of Humza Yousaf
The recent statements from Scottish authorities regarding the acceptance of Palestinian immigrants were in response to Israeli sources, emphasising Scotland’s willingness to welcome Palestinian immigrants. In reaction to Scotland’s stance on Gaza refugees, Israel announced its readiness to provide transportation via a ship for the refugees. Nissim Vaturi, the Knesset deputy speaker and member of the far-right Likud party, proposed relocating Gaza Strip residents to Scotland. He remarked, “If the Prime Minister of Scotland is willing to accept Gazans, let’s arrange their transport…even a 10-year-old child will become a killer in six or seven years.”
Pressure on Egypt to accept Palestinian refugees
Israel’s agenda includes exerting pressure on Egypt through European nations. The Financial Times reported that Israel’s Prime Minister attempted to persuade European leaders to pressure Egypt into accepting refugees from the Gaza Strip. However, influential countries like France, Germany, and the UK opposed Netanyahu’s proposal. On October 18, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi explicitly stated Cairo’s opposition to the migration of Palestinian people and their relocation to the Sinai desert area. Political observers analyse that implementing this plan could trigger a new phase of ethnic cleansing and displacement of Palestinians.
The emphasis of the UK government on the protection of civilians
Britain declared a $37.38 million allocation as humanitarian aid for Gaza, bringing the total British aid to the Gaza Strip to $60 million since October 7. Moreover, the fourth British plane, carrying 23 tons of humanitarian assistance, arrived at an Egyptian airport destined for Gaza. David Cameron, the UK’s new foreign secretary, emphasised that safeguarding civilians remains Britain’s foremost concern. He stated, “It is crucial to shield civilians from harm, and we are actively exploring various means to deliver aid to Gaza, including land, sea, and air routes.”
Nigel Farage’s response to the Gaza refugee crisis
Nigel Farage addressed the Gaza refugee crisis in a video and emphasised the importance of national security in accepting them. In a video, Nigel Farage mentioned the experiences of Denmark in 1992, which welcomed 300 refugees from Palestine. According to the statistics provided by Farage, 64% of these refugees have become criminals, and 34% of their children have also become criminals. Emphasising the importance of national security, he believes that the time has come to say “no” to accepting refugees and that enough is enough.
Scotland is the suitable model in the plans to accept Gaza refugees.
The article aimed to address how the Scottish Government is aiding Gaza refugees. Scotland and its authorities are pioneering by openly expressing their willingness to welcome Palestinian refugees, potentially setting a precedent for other nations. This stance has drawn reactions from Israeli authorities. In contrast, Rishi Sunak has diverged from Humza Yousaf’s position, focusing on providing humanitarian aid and safeguarding civilian lives rather than supporting refugee settlement.
