Humza Yousaf says in-laws still alive in Gaza after days of no contact

The First Minister previously told how he and his wife Nadia-El Nakla had not been able to contact her parents.

Humza Yousaf says in-laws still alive in Gaza after days of no contact STV News

Humza Yousaf says he has spoken to his in-laws who are currently trapped in Gaza.

He previously told how he and wife, Nadia-El Nakla, had not been able to contact her parents since the previous day after Israel cut communications in Gaza.

The First Minister said they did not know if they were dead or alive.

On Sunday, he confirmed on Twitter that they have now heard from them, however fears for their safety continue as they have run out of drinking water.

Ms El-Nakla’s parents, Elizabeth and Maged, travelled to Gaza from Scotland prior to the conflict to visit family.

Yousaf said: “We heard from my in-laws in Gaza this morning, they are alive, thank God.

“However, they have run out of clean drinking water.

“The UN resolution must be implemented.

“We need the violence to stop, and for significant amounts of aid to get through without delay.”

Yousaf previously wrote to all political leaders in the UK, urging them to back a ceasefire in Gaza.

In a letter understood to have been sent on Thursday evening, he said Israel has a right to defend itself following the Hamas attacks on October 7, but he added action must be taken now to stop the “staggering humanitarian disaster” unfolding in Gaza before it becomes “cataclysmic”.

Humza Yousaf says he has spoken to his in-laws who are currently trapped in Gaza.

He previously told how he and wife, Nadia-El Nakla, had not been able to contact her parents since the previous day after Israel cut communications in Gaza.

The First Minister said they did not know if they were dead or alive.

On Sunday, he confirmed on Twitter that they have no heard from them, however fears for their safety continue as they have run out of drinking water.

Ms El-Nakla’s parents, Elizabeth and Maged, travelled to Gaza from Scotland prior to the conflict to visit family.

Yousaf said: “We heard from my in-laws in Gaza this morning, they are alive, thank God.

“However, they have run out of clean drinking water.

“The UN resolution must be implemented.

“We need the violence to stop, and for significant amounts of aid to get through without delay.”

Yousaf previously wrote to all political leaders in the UK, urging them to back a ceasefire in Gaza.

In a letter understood to have been sent on Thursday evening, he said Israel has a right to defend itself following the Hamas attacks on October 7, but he added action must be taken now to stop the “staggering humanitarian disaster” unfolding in Gaza before it becomes “cataclysmic”.

On Sunday, a cabinet minister said the UK Government had not set any so-called “red lines” in Israel’s fight back against Hamas in Gaza.

Science secretary Michelle Donelan told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: “I don’t think we need to do that because there are already structures in place, there is international law that is well established.”

Asked whether the UK Government had told Israel that it had pledged its support “come what may”, Ms Donelan said: “That is categorically not what we’ve said.

“The Prime Minister has stood there and said he backs Israel’s right to defend itself, just like we would expect our own right to defend ourselves were the shoe to be on the other foot, but that must be done within international law.

“And the protection of civilians must be a priority. We’ve seen Israel telling the Gazan people to go to the south, we’ve also seen Hamas telling them not to move.”

Ms Donelan said Hamas has been using the Palestinian people as “human shields”, adding: “It is very difficult to get to Hamas without hurting innocent civilians.

“We of course though have said that the priority is to try and avoid doing that because we don’t want to see any loss of life.”

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