THE First Minister of Scotland has called for an investigation into "potential war crimes" after footage emerged of Israeli forces detaining dozens of Palestinian men stripped to their underwear.
The footage shows a large group of men in northern Gaza on the ground stripped, blindfolded and handcuffed and has been widely shared online. The first video appears to be filmed from the vantage point of a soldier guarding the men.
Another clip appears to show undressed detainees in the back of moving army trucks.
Reacting to the images, First Minister Humza Yousaf said: "This is inhumane cruelty. There are no other words for it. I repeat my call for the ICC [International Criminal Court] to be able to investigate potential war crimes by all parties and hold those who have been found guilty to account.
"A long-lasting, permanent ceasefire is needed and needed now."
The brother of Palestinian journalist Diaa Al-Kahlout, who was said to be among the group, said he recognised his brother in the footage.
He said the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) had come to their neighbourhood in Beit Lahia, where his brother had stayed to look after their elderly mother who could not move, and demanded over loudspeaker for all men to come down to the street.
The local news provider for which Al-Kahlout works posted a statement on its website which said he was among dozens of men arrested at gunpoint in the northern town of Beit Lahiya, along with his brothers, relatives and others.
Editor-in-chief Hossam Kanafani said Israeli forces deliberately "arrest, target and assassinate journalists" with the aim of preventing them from documenting their crimes in Gaza.
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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was "deeply concerned" by reports of Al-Kahlout's arrest.
CPJ Middle East and North Africa program coordinator Sherif Mansour said: “The Israeli army should disclose his location, release him immediately, and take steps to ensure the safety of all journalists covering this war, especially those in Gaza who face imminent harm.”
An IDF spokesperson said the IDF and the Israel Security Agency, known as Shin Bet, "arrested and interrogated hundreds suspected of involvement in terror activities".
They added: "Over the past day, many also surrendered. The intelligence we are gathering during the interrogations serves us during the continuation of the fighting.
"We investigate who is connected to Hamas, and who isn’t. We arrest everyone and question them."
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