There were renewed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza yesterday amid growing concerns about the impact of the fighting on civilians.
There were renewed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza yesterday amid growing concerns about the impact of the fighting on civilians.
Veteran peace campaigners Tony Benn and Brian Haw joined the launch of a non-stop vigil opposite the Houses of Parliament yesterday in protest at Israel's attacks.
Activists plan to maintain a presence in Parliament Square around the clock until the Israeli military withdraws and the violence ends.
Mr Benn, 83, who retired from a long parliamentary career in 2001, condemned the "massive humanitarian crisis" in Gaza.
"It's interesting - nowadays the real politics of the world is outside parliament and not inside," Mr Benn said.
Meanwhile, First Minister Alex Salmond has written to the Israeli ambassador calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. He told MSPs that Scots had been "shocked" by the scenes from the Middle East in recent days.
The Scottish cabinet discussed the situation in Gaza earlier this week, Mr Salmond said during First Minister's Questions.
"The Scottish Government joins a wide range of people in the international community calling for an immediate ceasefire and also free access for humanitarian supplies.
"I've written to the Israeli ambassador to reiterate that call."
Ministers are in contact with non-governmental organisations in Scotland who are operating in the region and are ready to consider bids for humanitarian support in Gaza.
Labour's Pauline McNeill said Edinburgh Direct Aid and other groups are standing by to take medical supplies, donated by health boards, to Gaza when it is safe to do so.
Mr Salmond said: "The whole of Scotland has been shocked by the scenes we've seen from Gaza.
"And people understand that warfare conducted in what is a confined strip of land inevitably carries with it the risk of substantial civilian casualties."
