Humza Yousaf has hit out at the Prime Minister and the leader of the Labour Party over their reluctance to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The First Minister — who has family trapped in the Palestinian enclave — said he could not comprehend the stance taken by Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, who have both stopped short of calling for an end to fighting to allow civilians to leave and aid to enter the territory.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, the First Minister said: “I can not understand the PM’s position, or Keir Starmer’s unwillingness to call on all parties to commit to an immediate ceasefire.

“How many more children have to die?"

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It has been another deadly day in Gaza, as Israel steps up its bombardment ahead of a possible ground incursion following the October 7 Hamas terror attack, which left at least 1,400 Israelis dead, and saw more than 220 taken hostage.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen made clear the plan was for Hamas to be "erased off the face of the planet." 

The Herald: Palestinian children injured in Israeli air raids arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital on October 25

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said 756 people – 344 of whom were children – were killed in the last 24 hours.

It said 6,546 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli airstrikes since 7 October. 

During a visit to a service for young people leaving the care system in Glasgow, Mr Yousaf told Global Radio: “How many more children have to die before you join us and join many across the world, including the United Nations, and call for that ceasefire?

“Call on all parties, not just one party here, call on all parties to commit to a ceasefire for the sake of those innocent children who are suffering so badly.”

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Mr Sunak said he backs “specific pauses” which would allow British nationals to leave, and humanitarian aid to enter.

Replying to a question from SNP deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black, the Prime Minister said: “We recognise for all of that to happen there has to be a safer environment, which of course necessitates specific pauses as distinct from a ceasefire.”

Ms Black said that joining calls for a ceasefire is the “best and maybe the only way to stop this conflict escalating beyond all control”.

But Mr Sunak said Israel has the “right to protect itself” after suffering a “shockingly brutal terrorist attack” at the hands of Hamas.

A spokesman for Sir Keir, speaking to journalists, stopped short of supporting the push for a ceasefire.

“We fully recognise that Israel has a right to defend itself, to go after the hostages and to act in accordance with humanitarian law in that process,” he said.

“What we have also said is that we need to ensure that there is protection of civilian life, that we ensure all necessary aid supplies can get into Gaza and reach people who need them, and that continues to be our position.”

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Mr Yousaf’s mother-in-law Elizabeth El-Nakla and her husband Maged are trapped in Gaza after travelling to visit an elderly relative.

During his visit to Glasgow on Wednesday, the First Minister received a message saying the couple remained safe.

“But they’ve been trapped in a war zone now for 18 days and there is no sign that I can see of the Rafah crossing opening for foreign nationals,” he said.

The First Minister said he was “upset and distraught” that Gazans are being subjected to “collective punishment for a crime they did not commit”.

He added: “The overwhelming majority had nothing to do with the disgraceful, atrocious terrorist attacks that Hamas carried out on October 7.

“All of us, all of us who are heads of government, politicians, political parties, we all have to unite in calling for a ceasefire, and calling for it now.”

The First Minister and Prime Minister shared a call on Tuesday, during which, Mr Sunak’s official spokesman said, the PM extended his sympathy to Mr Yousaf, adding: “We are doing everything within our power, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and many others, to release hostages and allow aid into Gaza.”

Meanwhile, the UN has warned that relief efforts will be forced to stop unless supplies of fuel are allowed to enter Gaza. 

Hospitals, bakeries and water pumps will also be unable to function.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) will not allow fuel to be part of any aid supply as they would be taken by Hamas. 

On Tuesday it published photos purportedly showing fuel tanks controlled by the terror group.

“This is what over half a million litres of diesel looks like while Hamas keeps claiming it does not have enough fuel to support hospitals and bakeries,” tweeted an IDF spokesperson.

READ MORE: Fuel fears as doctors raise concerns for premature babies in Gaza

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has attempted to clarify remarks in which he claimed the Hamas attack on southern Israel “did not happen in a vacuum.”

The comments have sparked fury in Israel. Mr Cohen cancelled a scheduled meeting with Mr Guterres.

“I will not meet with the UN secretary-general. After the October 7 massacre, there is no place for a balanced approach. Hamas must be erased off the face of the planet!” the Foreign Minister posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. 

Israel’s envoy to the UN, Gilad Erdan, called for Mr Guterres’ resignation, saying Israel must rethink its relations with the world body.

“We will refuse to grant visas to UN representatives. We have already refused to give one to Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths,” Mr Erdan told Army Radio, accusing Mr Guterres of justifying a slaughter. “It’s time to teach them a lesson.”

On Wednesday, Mr Guterres tweeted: “The grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the horrific attacks by Hamas. Those horrendous attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”