Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

Majority of Scots support halting all arms exports to 'Israel': Poll

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The National
  • 31 Dec 2024 15:18
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The UK government has faced growing pressure to end military sales to "Israel" amid its ongoing bombardment of Gaza, which has resulted in the killing of over 45,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

Listen
  • x
  • Poll shows majority of scots support halting arms exports to
    Police clear protesters, some chained, outside of the British consulate in the eastern part of occupied al-Quds, to call on the UK to stop providing arms to “Israel” for its war on the Gaza Strip, during a visit by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his French counterpart during internationally mediated ceasefire talks in Qatar, Friday, August 16, 2024. (AP)

A Find Out Now survey of 1,774 Scottish adults revealed that 70% of respondents believe the UK government should block all military export licenses to "Israel", The National news website reported on Tuesday.

This is compared to just 30% who oppose halting the arms exports. The UK government has faced growing pressure to end military sales to "Israel" amid its ongoing war on Gaza, which has resulted in the killing of over 45,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

In September, the UK government suspended some arms export licenses, fearing that British-made components could contribute to potential war crimes.

At the time, Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that around 30 licenses were suspended, with the Scottish National Party (SNP) questioning why a "blanket ban" had not been implemented. In December, SNP MP Brendan O'Hara warned that Britain's involvement in the Israeli actions could have consequences.

A report from the British Palestine Committee also suggested that the UK's military role in the war on Gaza was far more significant than typically acknowledged.

In response to the Find Out Now poll, former First Minister Humza Yousaf stated, "Continuing arms exports to Israel means that the UK will continue its complicity in war crimes in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent people, the majority reported to be women and children."

"It is hardly surprising that the vast, overwhelming majority of people are opposed to selling arms to a government whose head is wanted by the International Criminal Court – for war crimes and crimes against humanity."

Yousaf called on the UK government to heed public opinion and "finally do the right thing, end their complicity and immediately block all military export licenses to Israel."

Related News

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Israeli report shows 20,000 soldiers wounded, rising care crisis

Dive deeper

The Export Control Joint Unit, part of the UK's Department for Business and Trade, is responsible for processing arms export license applications. In its assessments, the unit considers the UK's obligations under international law and the potential risks of goods being used in violations of international humanitarian law.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that he does not believe "Israel" is committing genocide. However, a month later, Amnesty International issued a major report accusing "Israel" of committing genocide in Gaza by deliberately targeting Palestinians, destroying vital infrastructure, and obstructing the delivery of aid.

In late November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Secretary Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes against humanity.

In addition to Yousaf, pro-Palestine activists have called on the UK government to act in response to the Find Out Now polling data.

Arthur West, a member of the Stop the War Scotland steering committee, told The National, "The result of this polling provides further compelling evidence that the UK Government should withdraw licenses for all sales of arms and military equipment to Israel. In the last few weeks, respected organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have also produced reports detailing genocide by the Israeli government and military in Gaza."

"It is now time for the UK Government to act decisively and with humanity on this issue. The UK Government must act without hesitation to stop the flow of UK arms and military support to Israel," West underlined.

This comes after emerging reports highlighted the death of several babies from hypothermia in Gaza's refugee camps, including a father who lost his 20-day-old twin to the cold.

Touching on the matter, a Scottish government spokesperson said that his government and its enterprise and skills agencies "do not provide funding for the manufacture of munitions."

"Scotland’s enterprise agencies have appropriate safeguards in place to ensure that any funding provided is used only for the specific purpose intended. Human rights due diligence checks are central to that process," the spokesperson added.

"Export licensing is reserved for the UK Government. The Scottish Government believes all arms sales to Israel must stop."

  • Gaza Strip
  • UK Government
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • Israeli occupation
  • Israeli war crimes
  • UK
  • United Kingdom
  • Scotland
  • Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS