Scottish Parliament calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza
3 Min Read
Scotland’s First Minister has called on the Prime Minister to recognize the state of Palestine.
-
Humza Yousaf during a press conference on winter pressures in the NHS in Edinburgh (AP)
MSPs voted 90 to 28 in favor of a Scottish Government resolution asking for an end to the slaughter of civilians in Gaza.
The First Minister of Scotland also urged the Prime Minister to recognize the state of Palestine.
Humza Yousaf pushed for the UK Government to recognize Palestine "within the 1967 borders" in a letter to Rishi Sunak on Tuesday.
A similar letter was written to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, pleading with him to support the proposals.
Yousaf wrote that it was "essential and urgent" that the UK government tell "Israel" and the world that “only Palestinians can have authority in Gaza."
He alluded to the 130 members of the UN and 9 EU members who have already recognized Palestine in its 1967 borders, citing that the recognition would "offer hope to Palestinians that a just and durable political solution is possible" while indicating to the Israelis that the "expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza is unacceptable."
The First Minister also decried what he called the "gradual, but deliberate, expulsion of Palestinians from the entire territory" in response to the Israeli government's order for Palestinians to leave the city of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip's south.
“Following the forced evacuation of the population from the north of Gaza, it reinforces the impression that what we are witnessing is the gradual, but deliberate, expulsion of Palestinians from the entire territory."
The Scottish Parliament was expected to hold a debate later regarding the situation in Gaza.
The Scottish Government has introduced legislation asking for an immediate ceasefire, which is anticipated to gain bipartisan backing. In addition, it called for the immediate release of captives held by the Resistance.
Scottish Labour, which has announced it would back the Government in the vote on Tuesday evening, has also submitted an amendment calling for a referral to the International Criminal Court to look into possible war crimes committed, which is anticipated to pass.
Hamas chief says Resistance 'close to reaching' truce deal in Gaza
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh confirmed on Tuesday that the movement was nearing a truce agreement with the Israeli occupation, according to a statement posted on Telegram.
"We are close to reaching a deal on a truce," Haniyeh said, according to the post, adding that the Resistance group delivered its response to Qatari officials.
This comes after the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement announced that its Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah, discussed with Haniyeh the situation in Gaza and negotiations related to the prisoner exchange deal.
Israeli media reported on Monday that "these are crucial hours, and this time we are closer to a prisoner exchange deal."
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation published on Monday that Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has given the green light for a prisoner exchange deal with the Palestinian Resistance.
US President Joe Biden told reporters Monday he believes a prisoner swap deal between the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza and the Israeli occupation is close.
