Former First Minister Humza Yousaf has accused Foreign Secretary David Lammy of racism over his diplomatic meeting with an Israeli Minister during Gaza ceasefire negotiations.
Yousaf claimed the different diplomatic approaches taken towards Israel compared to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine revealed racist double standards in British foreign policy.
The accusation came after Lammy met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday as part of efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaking to the pro-independence National newspaper, Yousaf suggested the contrasting treatment showed that “Arab lives simply do not matter to the same extent as European lives”.
Former Scottish First Minister Humza YousafPAHe argued that British politicians would not engage in similar diplomatic meetings with Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin or Moscow’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Lammy’s meeting with Sa’ar included discussions on the need for an “immediate ceasefire”, the lifting of aid restrictions on Gaza and the release of hostages taken by Hamas.
Both ministers shared images on social media of them shaking hands and smiling during the encounter.
During his diplomatic visit, Lammy also met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
David Lammy and Gideon Sa’ar
Yousaf criticised Lammy in The National, claiming he attempted to “cover-up” the meeting, despite the Foreign Secretary posting about it on X.
The former First Minister called it “shameful” to meet with the Israeli Government and “pose for photographs with the government whose head is wanted by the International Criminal Court”.
Defending his racism claim, Yousaf added: “The only conclusion one can draw with why the Israeli government and the people of Gaza are treated differently is that it has to be rooted in racism.”
He claimed Israel was responsible for 75,000 deaths in Gaza, with nearly 70 per cent of the fatalities being either women or children.
Humza Yousaf
PA
The former First Minister also claimed that “hospital, schools and refugee camps” had been targeted by bombs.
He called for Scottish Enterprise to stop providing grants to companies allegedly involved in manufacturing weapons used by Israel in the conflict.
Yousaf indicated his intention to work in “conflict resolution” after leaving politics next year, saying he could “envisage” working for an international organisation.
Ex-Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw, who is now convenor of Holyrood’s Building Bridges with Israel cross-party group, strongly rejected Yousaf’s accusations.
David LammyPA“To suggest doing so is racist, is both offensive and naïve,” Carlaw said.
He also emphasised that achieving peace requires engagement with all parties, stating: “If a ceasefire is to be achieved in the Middle East it’s essential that politicians engage with all sides in this awful conflict.”
The controversy has personal significance for Yousaf, whose family members were trapped in Gaza early in the conflict.
Yousaf’s parents-in-law, who normally reside in Scotland, were eventually evacuated from the conflict zone after being caught during a visit to relatives.
The former First Minister’s wife Nadia El-Nakla has even accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza.
GB News has approached the Foreign Office for comment.
+ There are no comments
Add yours