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