FORMER first minister Humza Yousaf has issued a statement on International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians, calling the day "so hollow" and urged the UK Government to stop selling arms to Israel.
International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians is an annual commemoration to remember that Palestinians have been fighting for human rights, peace and justice for 76 years.
The day was created in 1977 by the UN, and the organisation said this year’s commemoration is "especially painful", as the bombardment of Gaza continues after more than a year.
In the past 400 days, Israel’s military action on the Gaza Strip has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, 70% are estimated by the UN to be women and children.
More than 104,000 have been injured and thousands more are still missing.
Humza Yousaf shared a statement in a video on social media this evening, asking followers "has a day ever felt so hollow?".
He said: "The UN General Assembly designated November 29 as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
"Has there ever been a day that feels so hollow? Do you think the orphaned children of Gaza feel our solidarity? Does the father, whose wife and children have been killed in an Israeli airstrike feel our solidarity?
"When political leaders are allowed to commit war crimes with absolute impunity, do you think the Palestinian people feel our solidarity?
"When Palestinians have their land stolen off them again, do you think they feel our solidarity?
"When children and babies huddle in tents and refugee camps during the winter months, shivering, clinging on to their parents for heat, do you think the Palestinian people feel our solidarity?"
The 29th November is designated as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. Has ever a day seemed so hollow? Solidarity means actions, not paltitudes. It means accountability, not impunity. It means choosing peace, not complicity in war crimes. pic.twitter.com/ZrqcXHdo4K
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) November 29, 2024
He added: "If solidarity is to mean anything then we need more than platitudes, more than tokenistic days of solidarity, more than mere words. We need action.
"That is why we need the UK Government to confirm that they will arrest Netanyahu if he steps foot on British soil."
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants earlier this week for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant.
They are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman has previously said the UK would arrest Netanyahu if he stepped foot in the country but added Keir Starmer would continue to talk to the Israeli PM.
Yousaf then said the UK needed to stop selling arms to Israel and called for an immediate ceasefire.
He concluded: "In the meantime, we must keep raising our voices. We must keep talking about Gaza, and we must let the Palestinian people that in their darkest hour, they are not alone, and that we stand with you."
