Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has made an emotional plea for the safety of his family members who are currently trapped in Gaza amidst intense Israeli airstrikes. The senior politician revealed that his wife Nadia's parents, Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, travelled from their home in Dundee to visit family in the Deir al-Balah region just days before Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel.
The couple, both experienced emergency workers in Scotland, now find themselves in the heart of a war zone, desperately seeking shelter as airstrikes devastate the area around them. Mr Yousaf described the terrifying situation during a BBC Scotland interview, stating his family has been "huddling together in one room" as explosions rock their neighbourhood.
Mr Yousaf, who has been First Minister since March, shared that communication with his in-laws has been severely limited. "The last 24 hours have been incredibly difficult," he confessed, "with very little contact because, as you can imagine, the internet and phone signal is incredibly weak."
The family's attempt to leave through the Rafah crossing into Egypt proved futile as the border remains firmly closed, trapping countless civilians inside the conflict area. The First Minister expressed his profound concern, noting that his mother-in-law requires regular medication that is becoming increasingly difficult to access.
This personal connection to the Middle East crisis adds a deeply human dimension to the international conflict, highlighting how violence in the region affects families across the globe, including those in senior political positions within the UK.
