Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf has said he is “beyond angry” with MPs who refused to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and warned they were “on the wrong side of history”.
SNP leader Mr Yousaf, who was recently reunited with his Palestinian in-laws after they returned to the UK from the warzone in Gaza, said the vote was a chance to “put humanity before politics”.
He said one child has been killed every 10 minutes in Gaza, a statistic sourced from the World Health Organisation.
Mr Yousaf said the death toll of 4,500 children killed in a month during the Israel-Hamas war was “senseless”, and urged the public to speak out against the bloodshed.
First Minister and SNP leader Humza Yousaf and his wife, councillor Nadia El-Nakla, whose parents were trapped in Gaza (Jane Barlow/PA)
The First Minister said: “Today at Westminster MPs were presented with the chance to vote in favour of the SNP ceasefire. This was a plea to put humanity before politics by endorsing a ceasefire.
“Too many parents have had to bury their children in Gaza. Too many children have become orphaned. Too many have suffered. And for far too long.
READ MORE: Labour MPs defy Sir Keir Starmer to back SNP call for Gaza ceasefire
“A ceasefire would enable a humanitarian corridor and the crucial delivery of immediate aid to those in desperate need. I am beyond angry that Scottish Labour MPs and others refused to back the calls for an immediate ceasefire.
“They are on the wrong side of history, which is unforgivable.
“Over 4,500 innocent children have been killed in Gaza. The World Health Organisation has reported a heartbreaking statistic a child has been killed every 10 minutes.
“Let that sink in and know there are haunting images of tiny premature babies who have been removed from the incubators because the situation is so dire.
READ MORE: Gaza ceasefire vote - How did MPs vote? Full list of rebels
“This cannot continue. Humanity must prevail through collective international pressure. A path to ending the senseless violence can and must be found.
“We cannot allow the silent screams of the innocent to go unanswered. In the face of such profound sorrow, let all of our voices join the rallying cry of human solidarity. Take action.
“Use your voice and I can promise you that I will continue to raise my voice to demand an immediate ceasefire.
“We cannot allow this humanitarian catastrophe to go on for a second longer.”
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn MP criticised a “shameful” decision from the majority of MPs to vote against a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Mr Flynn proposed the motion which was defeated and quoted former Prime Minister David Cameron, who described Gaza as an “open air prison” in 2010.
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He said both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer had “ignored” the United Nations, and were “sitting on their hands” rather than helping civilians, after more than 10,000 deaths in the enclave in one month.
Mr Flynn said: “Tonight, the SNP voted in line with our values for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel. SNP MPs will be able to look themselves in the mirror knowing they did the right thing."
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