HUMZA Yousaf has hit out at the Israeli government’s “disregard for human life” amid reports of crucial food and water being blocked from entering northern Gaza.
According to Oxfam, just 12 of the 34 aid trucks given permission to enter the North Gaza governorate by the Israeli military have reached their intended destination since October 6 this year – almost three months ago.
The former first minister said it is “further evidence of the Netanyahu regime committing war crimes” in Gaza.
He added: “Starvation being used as a weapon of war is deeply shocking and Israel must be held to account for their continual breaches of international law.”
A convoy of 11 trucks was initially paused last month at the holding point by the Israeli military at Jabalia according to Oxfam, where some food was taken by starving civilians.
After the green light to proceed to the destination was received, the trucks were then stopped again at a military checkpoint where soldiers forced the drivers to offload the aid in a militarised zone – which civilians reportedly had no access to.
The following week, the aid organisation said Israel permitted 14 more trucks but due to a delay, only three were able to enter.
Last Friday (December 20), Israel finally permitted a further nine UN trucks to deliver food and water to an aid distribution point in Beit Hanoun, where civilians sheltering in schools were able to collect it. People said that they were barely surviving and had so little to eat, they were eating leaves.
“This latest account from Oxfam outlines accounts of barefoot children searching through rubbish for food, families forced to survive on a single pack of biscuits, and hospitals overwhelmed amidst relentless shelling,” Yousaf said.
He added that it is a “humanitarian catastrophe” that many in governments in the world “seem happy to ignore”.
“With the Israeli government having such disregard for human life, it is astonishing that the UK Government can justify selling arms to them, it no doubt makes them complicit in such egregious breaches on international law,” he said.
"The deliberate obstruction of lifesaving aid targets civilians directly – the international community must now act, where is has so miserably failed, and ensure an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, alongside the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to those who need it so desperately in Gaza.”
Yousaf added: "The people of Gaza have the right to live in peace and dignity. The SNP will continue to stand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and an end to this atrocity and for the protection of innocent lives."
The Israeli government have been approached for comment.
