Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s First Minister, has expressed his growing concern for his family members currently stuck in Gaza, following lost contact. Yousaf last communicated with his wife’s parents, Nadia El-Nakla’s mother and father, on Friday morning around 7:30 before all communication lines were disrupted due to the escalation of ground operations by Israel.
His family members had travelled to Gaza before the 7th October attack by Hamas on Israel and have been unable to exit the region since then. As Israeli military operations in Gaza intensify, Yousaf’s worry resonates with numerous families globally, uncertain about the fate of their loved ones trapped in the conflict zone.
In his last interaction with his mother-in-law, Elizabeth, who is a retired nurse, she mentioned the heavy bombing of the previous night. She also shared that their home, normally accommodating 10 people, was now sheltering 100 individuals. The residents spent a significant portion of their time strategising about the safest room and corner to huddle in, should their home be hit by an airstrike.
The anguish and concern expressed by Yousaf reflect the grim reality faced by innocent civilians, including women and children, caught in the middle of the conflict. He shared the family’s numbing fear for their safety and the distress that such a conversation should never be necessary.
Yousaf also expressed his concern for his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Maged, a retired businessperson. They are among approximately 200 UK citizens believed to be trapped in Gaza. He expressed their feeling of being forsaken by the UK government.
Yousaf has additionally reiterated his calls for an immediate ceasefire. He questioned the number of innocent lives, including children, that need to be lost before the international community unequivocally demands a halt to the bombings.
