Scots ministers offer Gaza help

Ms Sturgeon said the government was in contact with aid organisations

The Scottish Government has said it stands ready to help the humanitarian effort in Gaza.

The confirmation came as MSPs staged an emergency debate at Holyrood on the Middle East crisis.

The Scottish Parliament added its voice to calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, with all parties expressing concern about lives lost on all sides.

But the debate still saw heated clashes between Conservative and Liberal Democrat MSPs over the conflict.

Holyrood has no devolved responsibility for foreign affairs but MSPs, who can discuss and vote on any issue, passed a motion expressing concern over the loss "of all lives" in the conflict and calling for a ceasefire.

Leading the debate, Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said her government strongly condemned attacks on civilians, whether Israeli or Palestinian.

It is difficult to achieve the moral high ground in human rights with the Israelis given that six million Jews were exterminated within living memory Ted Brocklebank Conservative MSP

She said there was a strength of feeling among Scots who wanted to send aid to Gaza, which has been bombed in the Israeli offensive, which began on 27 December.

Efforts have been continuing to broker a ceasefire.

"Only a complete cessation of violence will suffice," Ms Sturgeon said, adding: "Three-hourly pauses in bombing are simply not sufficient to feed 750,000 people."

She said government officials were in regular contact with non-governmental organisations in Gaza, telling parliament: "The Scottish Government stand ready to respond favourably to any requests for humanitarian assistance that may be made by those working on the ground."

Conservative Ted Brocklebank said it was Isarel's right to protect itself from militants, adding that it had been "boxed in" by nations "hell bent on its obliteration".

The MSP deplored civilian deaths in Gaza, but added: "It is difficult to achieve the moral high ground in human rights with the Israelis given that six million Jews were exterminated within living memory with absolutely no regard to their human rights."

'World's failure'

He said this did not give Israel "carte blanche" to disregard the human rights of its Palestinian neighbours.

Hugh O'Donnell, a Lib Dem MSP, hit out at the comments, telling parliament: "The Palestinian people are paying a dear price for the guilt of Europe in relation to what happened to the European Jews.

"I find Mr Brocklebank's contribution completely inappropriate but unsurprising given that the Conservatives did everything they could to prevent this debate taking place."

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill, who travelled to Gaza last year, said it was important for the Scottish Parliament to send a message.

"A homeland for Palestinians has been promised for over 60 years, it's the world's failure," she said.

"The siege of Gaza meant that an entire population was collectively punished for these actions."