The Scottish Government today offered aid agencies help in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs there was a "strength of feeling" among Scots who want to raise money and send aid to the region, which has been pounded by bombs since an Israeli offensive began on December 27.

She was speaking in a specially-called Holyrood debate on the crisis as Israel halted its military action in Gaza for three hours to allow residents to stock up on supplies and the Lebanese government criticised a rocket attack from south Lebanon into Israel.

Ms Sturgeon said ministers were in regular contact with aid agencies in Gaza.

"They have been advised that, following a decision of the Cabinet on Tuesday, the Scottish Government stands ready to respond favourably to any requests for humanitarian assistance that may be made by those working on the ground," she said.

"In addition, the First Minister has written to the Israeli government expressing our desire, hopefully expressed on behalf of this Parliament, and indeed the Scottish nation, for that immediate ceasefire."

As politicians continued to mount pressure for an end to hostilities, figures were putting the number of Palestinian dead at more than 670 since fighting began on December 27.

Last night Israeli police said rockets had been fired into the country from Lebanon.

Three-hour bombing ceasefires have been called by Israel but aid agencies said that there was very little that could be done to help besieged Palestinians in such a short time.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Like every other reasonable person I believe that Israel has a right to defend its citizens from rocket attacks.

"But they have a duty to act reasonably, proportionally and within the obligations imposed on them by international law."

She condemned the use of violence on both sides of the conflict and added: "There must be an understanding by all sides involved that the continued violence is shattering any glimmer of hope that existed for a long term solution and lasting peace in the region."

Echoing comments made by Prime Minister Gordon Brown last week, she described the "humanitarian crisis" gripping the Gaza strip.

Ms Sturgeon said an 18-month blockade of the region brought devastating consequences to the area, where basic goods are in short supply.

She told MSPs that she attended an Islamic Relief event at the weekend which raised £160,000 to go towards incubators and medical supplies for the people of Gaza.

Tory Ted Brocklebank said he "deplored" the civilian deaths in Gaza.

But he said: "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."

It's difficult see how his pleas specifically for Israeli restraint could prompt anything in Gaza other than the question 'Who is Alex Salmond?' Ted Brocklebank

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

He also voiced scepticism about First Minister Alex Salmond's calls for an Israeli ceasefire.

The Tory said: "It's difficult see how his pleas specifically for Israeli restraint could prompt anything in Gaza other than the question 'Who is Alex Salmond?"' Mr Brocklebank called for more "intellectual honesty" in the reporting and comment on the crisis.

"Even-handedness is not about accepting every claim from Hamas as gospel and every counter claim from Israel as propaganda."

He added: "Hamas is a militant organisation funded by Iran which itself is dedicated to the destruction of Israel and is widely believed to be developing nuclear weapons.

"It is the right of the sovereign state of Israel to protect itself and its people from militants."

Israel is "boxed in" by nations which are "hell bent on its obliteration", the Tory added.

Lib Dem Hugh O'Donnell hit out at Mr Brocklebank's comments.

"The Palestinian people are paying a dear price for the guilt of Europe in relation to what happened to the European Jews," Mr O'Donnell said to applause from fellow MSPs.

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

Mr O'Donnell congratulated the Scottish organisations taking practical steps to help the people in Gaza.

"We've watched in horror as the conflict in Gaza has claimed innocent victim after innocent victim," he said.

"We've watched the UN schools, which the Israelis have co-ordinates for, be completely destroyed."

The Lib Dem said that the past fortnight has been a "telling indictment" of the international community.

"We have an outgoing US president giving carte blanche to what is being done to the people of Gaza and an aching silence, regrettably, from the president-elect," he added.

He also said the EU was "encumbered by clumsy decision-making and confused messages."

British aid workers in Gaza had been waiting for Israel to suspend bombing but warned that even if the area did see another temporary pause in fighting there was very little that could be done to help besieged Palestinians in such a short time.

Yesterday 80 lorries carrying supplies and fuel were allowed into the enclave and humanitarian workers based there were able to distribute some rations but warned it was a fraction of the aid needed.

High-profile British Jews were advised to review their security yesterday amid fears of reprisal attacks over the violence in Gaza.

The Sun said that famous figures including The Apprentice star Sir Alan Sugar, pop producer Mark Ronson and Mr Miliband had been singled out on the popular Ummah Islamic web forum.

Mark Gardner, of The Community Security Trust (CST), said prominent Jews had been warned to be aware of potential threats.

He said yesterday: "We sent out a security advisory note when the violence began and updated it today. It is a constant process of liaison between us and the community.

"Our community is conscious, very conscious of security and expects to hear from us at these times.

"It is a notice reminding people to ensure security routines are properly implemented, that CCTV cameras are clean and working.

"We were aware of these chatroom postings and of course we have spoken to people, I cannot say everyone that is mentioned, but we have discussed it with some of them."

Ummah strongly denied that the comments posted on its forum included anti-Semitic threats.

The website said in a statement: "Most people will realise that this thread is about a peaceful form of campaigning against the state of Israel by writing 'polite' letters to well-known and wealthy supporters of the state asking them to withdraw that support and encouraging Muslims not to do business nor work with them until they do."

Spokesmen for Sir Alan and Mr Miliband declined to respond to the report, and Ronson's publicist was not available for comment.

A British-born hairdresser who lives in Gaza described life under siege as bombing continued in the densely populated area.

Miriam Faris said food supplies were scarce and there was no electricity.

She told GMTV that Gaza "has been closed off from the world for so long and it's just like if they cordoned off Brighton and then we said 'well, we are not giving you any more foodstuffs, Pampers and baby milk...until we are really on the edge, on the brink of starvation and then they decide to let some more in".

Mother-of-two Mrs Faris, who is originally from Cumbria, added that people were not allowed to travel but that one of her sons had managed to visit - the first time she had seen him for three years.

Mrs Faris, who said she had no plans to leave Gaza, heard more bombing last night.

"Most of the bombing of the last few days has been on the outskirts of Gaza City," she said. "It's really heavily populated there. The houses are really close together."

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