Humza Yousaf has described the situation in Gaza, where he has family whom his wife’s parents are visiting, as a “human catastrophe”.

The Scottish first minister and SNP leader told BBC political editor Chris Mason that Israel had the right to defend itself, but was “going too far” in subjecting civilians in Gaza to “collective punishment”. About 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza have been ordered to leave by Israel – and many are heading south.

Speaking on the eve of the SNP’s annual conference, in Aberdeen, Mr Yousaf also said there was a “sense of helplessness and distress” in messages from his mother-in-law, who’s in southern Gaza.

Civilians flee to southern Gaza after Israel warning