SCOTLAND’S former justice secretary was drowned out by boos after telling a rally in Glasgow that Israel has a right to “defend itself against terrorism.”

Keith Brown was the first speaker as hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered at the city’s Buchanan Street steps on Saturday.

He said: “We need to be clear, collective punishment is a war crime, and it’s wrong that the Palestinian people are currently being collectively punished for the actions of a terrorist group.

“The only way that we’re going to end the perpetual cycle of violence in Israel and Palestine is by addressing the root cause.

“That’s why we stand for a two-state solution, which recognises the sovereignty, the independence, the territorial integrity and the right to self determination of both Palestine and Israel.”

Boos began to ring out after the former minister, who served under Nicola Sturgeon, said: “As I say, Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorism.”

Mr Brown, who said he was speaking in a personal capacity, continued against the backdrop of boos: “But that response must be proportionate.

“The actions of the Israeli government in recent weeks have been anything but.”

Tearful eight-year-old Jeewan Wadi, who was born in Gaza in 2014, later addressed the crowd as she was held up by her father.

Recounting how, while pregnant with her, her mother was forced to hide from bombs, she said: “Listen everybody, I only care about the children, babies, women and men that are getting bombed in their own homes.”

Ending her remarks, Jeewan led the crowd in a chant of “ceasefire now.”

Stop the War Coalition activist and Scottish leader of the Radical Independence Campaign Jonathon Shafi called for the resignation of Home Secretary Suella Braverman, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.