First Minister Humza Yousaf has written to UK political leaders urging them to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, to allow a humanitarian corridor to open. The First Minister says the UK should stand together to stop the humanitarian disaster that is unfolding in Gaza.

The abhorrent terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on 7 October must be unequivocally condemned, and I will continue to join you in doing so. Hamas must release immediately and unconditionally all hostages and cease its missile attacks on Israel.

The killing of innocent civilians can never be justified, wherever it occurs. Israel, like every other country, has a right to protect itself from attack, but in doing so it must comply with international law.

Since the tragic events of that day, the loss of life has escalated. More than 1,400 Israelis and 5,700 Palestinians are reported to have been killed. More than 1.4 million Palestinians have been displaced and in excess of 600,000 people are sheltering in UN-run facilities. Many British citizens are trapped in a warzone with nowhere to go, under intense daily bombardment of the Gaza strip.

Food, water, fuel, and medicine are being restricted, with limited humanitarian supplies – nowhere near enough – being allowed in. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) – the largest humanitarian agency working in Gaza – has warned that unless fuel is allowed into Gaza immediately, the agency will be forced to halt all operations as of today.

I am, therefore, writing to ask for your support in helping to stop the staggering humanitarian disaster we are witnessing, which is set to get even worse. We should stand together and united in unequivocally calling on all parties to commit to an immediate ceasefire to allow a humanitarian corridor to be opened, so that lifesaving supplies can get into Gaza and innocent civilians who want to leave be given safe passage out.

The situation in Gaza is at the point of being cataclysmic. All of us must do everything we can to prevent that. There must be no more dithering, or delay, together we must call for an immediate ceasefire.

UN chief António Guterres called on Wednesday 18th of October for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Middle East to ease the “epic human suffering” in the Israel-Gaza conflict. On the same day the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have called for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza. While 12 of the Council’s 15 members voted in favour of the Brazilian-led text, one (United States) voted against, and two (Russia, and the United Kingdom) abstained.

Calls by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for civilians in Gaza City to evacuate – warnings which “make no difference” because “people have nowhere to go or are unable to move”, said the UN’s top humanitarian official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lynn Hastings.

“When the evacuation routes are bombed, when people north as well as south are caught up in hostilities, when the essentials for survival are lacking, and when there are no assurances for return, people are left with nothing but impossible choices”, she said, insisting that “nowhere is safe in Gaza”.

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday 27th October adopted a resolution calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza. It also demands “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” provision of lifesaving supplies and services for civilians trapped inside the enclave, as news reports suggest Israel has expanded ground operations and intensified its bombing campaign. The  non-binding Jordanian resolution passed by a large majority of Member States, with 120 votes in favour, 14 against and 45 abstentions. The Emergency Special Session will reconvene on Tuesday, with countries continuing their debate 

The First Minister’s letter has been sent to:

• Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales
• Michelle O’Neill First Minister (Designate) of Northern Ireland
• Sir Keir Stamer, Leader of the Labour Party
• Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats
• Rhun ap Lorwerth, Leader of Plaid Cymru
• Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsey, Co-Leaders the Green Party of England and Wales 
• Douglas Ross, Leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
• Anas Sarwar, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
• Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, Co-Leaders of the Scottish Green Party
• Alex Cole Hamilton, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
• Clare Adamson, Convenor of the Scottish Parliament Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
• Alicia Kearns, Chair of the UK Parliament Foreign Affairs Select Committee

Fiona Grahame