Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf has become the first UK party leader to condemn Israel’s push for “ethnic cleansing”, after warning that Israeli officials had called for the “resettlement of the population of Gaza”.

Speaking to Sky News on Friday, Yousaf called on political leaders to “stop beating around the bush”, and that if recent statements from Israeli ministers were “not tantamount to ethnic cleansing, then I don’t know what is”.

Yousaf, told Sky News: “In the last week, we have heard statements from senior ministers in Netanyahu’s government, the finance secretary, the national security minister, very senior members of Netanyahu’s government.

They have made statements that the population of Gaza should be resettled, moved out of Gaza, and have gone as far as saying that Israeli settlements should now be in Gaza.

If that is not tantamount to ethnic cleansing, then I don’t know what is.

I think political leaders should stop beating around the bush, should call what they’re seeing in Gaza by what it is.

We are seeing not only a humanitarian crisis, but we’re now seeing senior members of the Netanyahu government making statements that are frankly the textbook definition of ethnic cleansing, and should be condemned in the strongest possible manner.”

Addressing the United Kingdom, Yousaf said the government must clarify to “Israel” that its conduct in Gaza has surpassed what is considered a “legitimate response”.

He also called the UK’s stubborn refusal to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza “shameful”, as he tried to urge for the employment of its influential power to halt all Israeli attacks and hold Israeli officials, including PM Benjamin Netanyahu, accountable for the killing of over 22,000 Palestinians.

Moreover, he advocated for sending aid to Gaza to curb the unfolding humanitarian crisis, as 85% of the population has been internally displaced and faces imminent threats of famine and disease.

Yousaf declared that it was “essential and urgent” that the UK government tell “Israel” and the world that “only Palestinians can have authority in Gaza.”

Source: Sky News