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Scottish Prime Minister Hamza Yousef said that the international community's response to what is happening in the Gaza Strip was weaker than it should be, stressing the need to stop the war immediately.

Youssef expressed - during an interview with Al Jazeera - that he feels sad about the positions of the countries that rejected the ceasefire, including the United Kingdom, noting that thousands of civilians, children, women and innocents were killed without fault, and he added, "This catastrophe is renewed daily and the people of Gaza are the only ones suffering." .

Youssef affirmed his support for the ongoing investigation carried out by the International Court of Justice regarding what constitutes a violation of international law and crimes of genocide, and said that Washington and London must put pressure on Israel to stop what it is doing in Gaza immediately.

He called on all international partners to cooperate in order to stop all acts of violence and release the hostages, stressing that not demanding a ceasefire is a "mistake."

He wondered, "How many women, children, and the elderly must die for the world to demand an end to the war?" adding, "The Scottish government will not stop demanding an end to the war because people cannot be held accountable for actions carried out by a few of them."

A huge mistake

Regarding the decision of some countries to stop supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Youssef said that he welcomed the investigation into all allegations attributed to some of the agency’s employees because this is the correct procedure.

But at the same time, he stressed that stopping the organization's funding is a grave mistake because it represents collective punishment of women, children, and those in need of medicine and food.

He stressed that he opposed this measure and would continue to oppose it, and urged the Secretary-General of the United Nations to call on governments to reverse this decision.

He pointed out that his government is dependent on the decisions of the British government, but he stressed support for the residents of Gaza to remain in their land, and said that the United Kingdom government must do what it can to prevent their deportation.

He stressed that the land of the Gaza Strip belongs to the people of Gaza and a plan to displace them must be strongly opposed, adding, "We will continue to raise our voice for the truth and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state."

Speaking about his readiness to receive any refugees from the Gaza Strip, Youssef said that the right to asylum and accepting immigration requests is still in the hands of the central government in London, indicating that he is ready to do what is necessary to accept the asylum requests of Gazans whose homes were destroyed, without ever accepting their displacement.

He stressed that receiving refugees from Gaza should not be part of their forced deportation, but rather to those whose homes were completely destroyed if they decided to leave their country.

He also stressed the need not to confuse accepting immigration applications with forced displacement, stressing the importance of emphasizing that the Gaza Strip is part of Palestine and cannot be separated from it.

Regarding the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, he said that it is one of the worst humanitarian disasters ever, adding, “We all feel very frustrated whenever we watch the scenes that are repeated daily, and I hear from my wife’s family - who are in the Gaza Strip - about the atrocities that are being renewed in Gaza.”

He said that he struggles daily to communicate with his wife’s family in the Gaza Strip because the situation at the crossings is very difficult, especially since some members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have terrifying plans for the residents of Gaza. He stressed, “These plans must be stopped and prevented, and aid must be brought into the Gaza Strip because the situation is catastrophic.”

Regarding possible solutions to the crisis, Youssef stressed that the matter seems difficult and that many people have lost hope - or are on the way to losing it - due to the reluctance of those who could stop the fighting to take a decision to stop or suspend it, describing what is happening in the Gaza Strip as “the worst disaster he has experienced in his life.”

He stressed the need to mobilize positions to push governments towards taking a decision to stop the war, and said, "What Al Jazeera is doing is very important to convey to the world the atrocities that the Gaza Strip is experiencing."

He concluded by saying that there is no talk of any peace in the region without the existence of an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel.

Source: Al Jazeera