Humza Yousaf says his relatives 'survived the night' in Gaza as violence flares in the region
10.10.2023 - 14:47
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Humza Yousaf has said his in-laws have survived the night after being “trapped” in Gaza.
The First Minister described the situation as "pretty horrendous" but added his wife's mother had been in touch earlier today.
"Thankfully, she survived the night, they’re safe for now, but I use that term very loosely in terms of how safe they are," the SNP leader said.
Throughout Monday night and into Tuesday morning, his mother-in-law Elizabeth El-Nakla said, they could hear missiles and jets, causing them to be “terrified”.
“I think the worst thing is that they feel literally trapped,” he said.
“They’re being told to leave… but they have nowhere to go.
“As of an hour ago, the Rafah border had been bombed and even if it was open, there’s no guarantee of safe passage travelling between where they live and the Rafah border.”
The First Minister revealed yesterday his wife's parents were "trapped" in Gaza after visiting relatives.
Yousaf's in-laws, Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, travelled to see their son, his wife and four children.
Yousaf earlier wrote to the Foreign Secretary urging the UK Government to call for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza to allow civilians to flee.
In a letter, he told James Cleverley: “Too many innocent people have already lost their lives as a consequence of these completely unjustifiable and illegitimate attacks by Hamas.
“However, innocent men, women and children cannot, and should not, pay the price for the actions of a terrorist group.”
He added: “As a close friend and ally of Israel, I therefore ask the UK Government to call on the government of Israel to ensure innocent civilians are protected and to put in place an immediate ceasefire to allow the safe passage of civilians through the Rafah border.
“Furthermore, it