During his speech at the Scottish National Party (SNP) conference, First Minister Humza Yousaf announced Scotland’s willingness to accept Palestinian refugees and migrants from Gaza.
He claimed Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s policy to defend British borders is “dog-whistle language”.
He recalled how Scotland and the UK previously welcomed refugees from Syria and Ukraine, urging a similar gesture now towards Gaza’s residents.
Yousaf’s plea was also personal, revealing his in-laws’ situation in Gaza amidst dwindling supplies.
While being pressured to acknowledge Israel’s right to self-defence, he condemned Israel’s self defence policy and criticised the UK’s support for it.
Despite foreign policy being a prerogative of the British government, Yousaf underscored Scotland’s readiness to offer sanctuary and medical aid to the Palestinian refugees, pressing the urgency for a global refugee programme to alleviate the crisis in Gaza.
He finished by urging the international community to intervene in the region in the name of humanitarianism.
