Emotional Humza Yousaf says his mother-in-law in Gaza has ‘lost hope’

The First Minister told MSPs he and his wife are barely sleeping from worry

An emotional Humza Yousaf has told the Scottish Parliament that his mother-in-law, who is trapped in Gaza after travelling there to visit family, has “lost hope”.

Elizabeth El-Nakla and her husband Maged – the parents of Mr Yousaf’s wife Nadia – travelled to Gaza before hostilities flared up earlier this month.

The First Minister said the couple are rationing food and his mother-in-law ate only cashew nuts on Monday.

Humza Yousaf's parents-in-law Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, are trapped in Gaza after visiting family.

Addressing MSPs, Mr Yousaf said: “Every night, Nadia and I go to bed, barely sleeping as we count down the hours until the morning, waiting anxiously for a message from my mother-in-law to tell us they have survived the night.

"Throughout the day, the 100 people in the family home must ration their food. The adults barely eat – my mother-in-law only ate cashew nuts yesterday – they ration so the children in the house don’t end up malnourished, but time is running out.

“I spoke to my mother-in-law this morning. She feels helpless and has lost hope. She told me she feels as if the UK Government has forgotten about her. Please don’t interpret my point as a political one, it is not.

"She is a UK Citizen, yet the only communication she receives from the Foreign Office is text messages telling her what she already knows – that the Rafah Crossing is closed. What she needs, is the UK Government, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, to spend every minute of every day demanding from their allies in Egypt and Israel that the Rafah Crossing opens and opens now, to allow those UK Citizens trapped in Gaza safe passage and for them to return home to their families.

Humza Yousaf. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

“I made this very point to the Prime Minister this afternoon when we spoke on the phone. And reiterated the Scottish Government’s calls for a ceasefire, for more aid, including fuel, to be allowed in to Gaza and of course that the Prime Minister had our support in doing everything he can to bring British hostages back home.”

Visibly emotional, Mr Yousaf added: “And in the meantime, I have a wife who really wants to hug her mum and dad, and I have two girls, who really miss their granny and granddad. They just want to know when they’ll come home, and I’m afraid it is a question I simply do not know the answer to.”

The First Minister said the Scottish Government “unequivocally condemns the abhorrent terrorist attacks of Hamas” and Israel has a right to protect itself. However, he said this must be done within international law.

He added: “Cutting off electricity, food, water, and fuel supplies to the people of Gaza is collective punishment and must be condemned in the strongest possible manner.”

Mr Yousaf reiterated calls for hostages to be released, for an immediate ceasefire, for an end to collective punishment, for more aid to be allowed into Gaza, and for those who want to leave to be given safe passage.

The First Minister also thanked opposition party leaders for their messages of support and solidarity.