PROTESTS demanding a ceasefire in Gaza have been held in numerous Scottish cities in recent weeks as the bombardment of the strip escalates.

This week The National’s podcast speaks to Jonathon Shafi from Stop the War Glasgow about the mood on the ground among campaigners, the lack of coverage of the protests by the BBC, and the political fallout as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

We analyse the reaction in Westminster and the reluctance of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and UK Labour leader Keir Starmer to call for a ceasefire, and what they actually mean by “humanitarian pauses”.

How does that compare to how First Minister Humza Yousaf has handled the international conflict in the media, while dealing with his in-laws being stranded in Gaza while the conflict has unfolded? 

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We now know that Nadia El-Nakla’s parents were able to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing on Friday, but there are many in the region who are still caught up in the conflict between the Israeli Government and Hamas.

Also this week our political reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie takes you behind the scenes of the Scottish Government’s latest independence white paper on migration.

Launched at the V&A in Dundee, we take you through the key points of the 60 page document, as well as the media huddle with Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville and Minister for Independence Jamie Hepburn.

Listen to Episode 8 of Series 2  above.