THE vast majority of Scots believe the UK Government should end all arms sales to Israel, new polling for The National has found.
A Find Out Now survey of 1774 Scottish adults revealed that 70% of Scots believe the UK Government should block all military export licences to Israel when don’t knows are removed, compared with just 30% who don’t believe they should be stopped.
The UK Government has consistently come under pressure to end all arms exports to Israel amid its ongoing bombardment of Gaza, which so far has killed more than 45,000 people.
In September, we told how the UK Government suspended some arms export licenses as ministers believed there is a risk that British-made parts could be aiding potential war crimes.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said around 30 licences would be suspended, with the SNP questioning why a “blanket ban” had not been imposed.
In December, SNP MP Brendan O’Hara said Britain’s complicity in Israel’s war crimes “will not be without consequence”.
We also revealed how a report from the British Palestine Committee stated that the UK’s military involvement in the assault on Gaza “goes far beyond” what is commonly assumed.
Reacting to the Find Out Now poll, former first minister Humza Yousaf said: “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.
“The UK Government must now listen to the will of the people and finally do the right thing, end their complicity and immediately block all military export licences to Israel.”
The Export Control Joint Unit – which sits within the UK’s Department for Business and Trade – is responsible for processing license applications.
When assessing these, they reflect on the UK’s obligations under international law and the potential risks that goods could possibly be used in the violation of international humanitarian law.
In November, Prime Minister Keir Starmer (above) said he does not believe that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
However, a month later, a major report from Amnesty International accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, saying it sought to deliberately destroy Palestinians by mounting deadly attacks, demolishing vital infrastructure and preventing the delivery of food, medicine and other aid.
At the end of November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence secretary Yoav Gallant.
The warrants are for alleged war crimes against humanity.
As well as Yousaf, pro-Palestine campaigners have also called on the UK Government to reflect on the figures in the Find Out Now polling.
Arthur West 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 organisations 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 current 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.”
The news comes following a report from Sky News that several babies have died from hypothermia in Gaza’s refugee camps.
The report stated that a father had lost his 20-day-old son as a result of hypothermia while his other was left fighting for his life against sepsis.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government and its enterprise and skills agencies do not provide funding for the manufacture of munitions. Support for defence sector companies is focused on helping firms to diversify their activities and technologies, ensuring Scotland continues to benefit from significant economic returns and thousands of jobs in the sector.
“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.
“Export licensing is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government believes all arms sales to Israel must stop.”
The National has approached the UK Government for further comment.
Find Out Now polled 1774 Scottish adults aged 18+ between December 17 and 24.
