Humza Yousaf says he has not heard from his in-laws in Gaza as the territory comes under increasingly heavy bombardment from Israeli armed forces.
The First Minister said on Saturday he had been unable to contact his wife’s mother and her husband after communications were cut off as bombing of the Gaza Strip intensified.
Writing on Twitter he said: “Thank you for your good wishes, I’m afraid we have not heard from my in-laws.
“My concern is for all the innocent people suffering for a crime they did not commit. If you did not vote for peace, while children are dying, then I do not know how you sleep at night.”
It comes as thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are expected to take to the streets of the UK, including Glasgow, on Saturday.
Demonstrators are calling for a ceasefire as Israel knocked out communications in the Gaza Strip in intensified attacks.
The move has largely cut off the 2.3 million population from contact with each other and the outside world.
The United Nations said the move would prevent aid from reaching Palestinians trapped inside the bombarded territory, with Tel Aviv continuing to fire air strikes on the 25-mile stretch.
Israel says it is targeting Hamas fighters who it claims are operating from among civilians.
UK foreign secretary James Cleverly said Hamas has given no indication it “desires or would abide by calls for a ceasefire”
He told broadcasters: “We have consistently sought to bring about pauses to facilitate the inward passage of humanitarian aid that we are providing and the release of hostages and the evacuation of British nationals in Gaza, so that has been our position from the start.
“Of course we want to see this resolved, we want to see Israel safe, peaceful and secure.
“But, as yet, I have seen or heard nothing from Hamas that gives me any confidence that they desire or would abide by calls for a ceasefire.”
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