Humza Yousaf’s unprecedented call for UK sanctions on Israel
In a startling intervention, Humza Yousaf—who served as Scotland’s First Minister from March 2023 until his resignation in May 2024—has publicly urged the UK government to impose trade sanctions on Israel akin to those levied against apartheid South Africa in the 1980s. Writing for The House, Yousaf condemned the ongoing conflict in Gaza as “genocide” and argued that Britain’s current response risked complicity without meaningful economic pressure.
Defining the proposed sanctions
Yousaf’s proposal goes beyond mere rhetoric. He specifically calls for:
- Suspension of the UK-Israel trade agreement that currently facilitates duty-free movement of certain goods, aiming to freeze bilateral trade in sectors linked to settlement expansion and military equipment.
- Arms embargo on Israel, halting exports of components and technology that could be used in the conflict or in maintaining the occupation of Palestinian territories.
- Freeze on new UK investments in corporations operating in or with the occupied West Bank, Gaza or East Jerusalem, mirroring the disinvestment campaigns of the 1980s.
- Cease university partnerships and cultural exchanges with Israeli institutions complicit in settlement policy, replicating the academic and sporting boycotts that isolated the apartheid regime.
These measures aim to target industries and institutions deemed “associated with the genocide in Gaza and Israel’s decades-long occupation,” according to Yousaf’s article.
Lessons from the South African sanctions era
The call to treat Israel as South Africa was treated in the 1980s carries significant historical weight. Between 1986 and 1989, the UK joined many nations in imposing:
- A comprehensive arms embargo, preventing new sales of military equipment to Pretoria.
- Trade restrictions on key South African exports, including coal and gold, to deprive the regime of vital revenue.
- Cultural and sporting boycotts, barring South African teams and artists from international events to stigmatize the regime globally.
- Disinvestment campaigns urging institutional and corporate pull-out from South Africa’s economy.
Yousaf argues that similar tactics helped pressure the South African government to pursue reform and ultimately dismantle apartheid. He believes that without analogous measures, Israel faces no real cost for its actions.
Reactions from Westminster and beyond
The proposal has stirred immediate debate in Parliament and the press:
- Government response: Downing Street has so far resisted calls for sanctions, citing the special strategic partnership with Israel and its role in Middle East stability.
- Opposition voices: Labour MP Naomi Law lauded Yousaf’s courage but questioned the feasibility, warning of potential impacts on defence and intelligence cooperation.
- Humanitarian groups: Campaigners from CAABU (Council for Arab-British Understanding) and Amnesty UK praised the initiative, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over 60,000 Palestinians have reportedly died since October 2023.
Some critics—particularly pro-Israel lobbyists—have decried the comparison to apartheid as inflammatory and inaccurate. Meanwhile, Palestinian advocates argue that economic leverage is one of the few remaining tools to force an end to civilian suffering.
Potential consequences of UK sanctions
Should the UK heed Yousaf’s recommendations, the economic and diplomatic fallout could be significant:
- Trade disruption in technology, agriculture and pharmaceuticals—key sectors in the UK-Israel trade relationship.
- Financial impact on British pension funds and sovereign wealth investments exposed to Israeli equities.
- Straining of security ties in counterterrorism and intelligence sharing, traditionally robust between the two nations.
- Ripple effects among EU and Commonwealth partners, some of which have hinted at similar measures if the UK leads by example.
Analysts note that even targeted sanctions—focused on settlement-related goods or defence equipment—could send a powerful political message with limited collateral damage.
Human cost behind the call
For Yousaf, this is not an abstract policy debate but a deeply personal matter. He recounts in his article how his wife Nadia’s relatives in Gaza are suffering from forced starvation due to the blockade and destruction of infrastructure. Their anguish underscores his insistence that “the UK government is utterly complicit” if it fails to act.
Next steps and political outlook
The next major milestone comes in September, when Labour leader Keir Starmer has pledged to recognize a Palestinian state unless certain ceasefire conditions are met. This recognition could pave the way for broader legislative action on sanctions—though any such measures would face intense scrutiny and require cross-party backing.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues, with hostilities ongoing since Hamas’s October 2023 incursion and subsequent Israeli military offensive, the debate over sanctions is likely to intensify. Humza Yousaf’s intervention ensures that calls for economic pressure will remain at the forefront of UK political discourse.