The Scottish first minister’s parents-in-law have arrived in Scotland after fleeing Gaza.
The parents of Humza Yousaf‘s wife, Nadia El-Nakla, left the besieged enclave on Friday through the Rafah border crossing.
Sharing a photo of his family on X, Mr Yousaf wrote: “I am pleased to say my in-laws are safe and back home.
“We are, of course, elated, but my father-in-law said, ‘My heart is broken in two, and with my mum, son & grandchildren in Gaza.’
“He then broke down telling me how hard it was saying goodbye to them.”
Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla had travelled to Gaza to visit family but were unable to return home after the conflict erupted on 7 October.
In a statement on Friday, the family said: “These last four weeks have been a living nightmare for our family, we are so thankful for all of the messages of comfort and prayers that we have received from across the world, and indeed from across the political spectrum in Scotland and the UK.”
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Their exit from Gaza comes as Deputy Prime Minster Oliver Dowden confirmed to Sky News this morning that more than 100 British nationals have now made it through the Rafah crossing into Egypt.
However he said it was “disappointing” that the vital crossing was closed yesterday, “meaning we couldn’t get more out”.
“We are making representations at every level to reopen the crossing and I am hopeful we will achieve that,” he added.
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Mr Yousaf has previously spoken to Sky News about the experience of his family in Gaza as it continues to come under heavy bombardment from Israel.
It was confirmed on Friday that Mr Yousaf parents-in-law had made it out of Gaza after four weeks of a “living nightmare”.
He said his parents-in-law were “incredibly traumatised” after spending “almost four weeks in a war zone” and that it would take them “some time to recover”.
He also described the impact on his own household, saying he was “hugely relieved” that they had been able to make it out of Gaza and that it was a “special moment” for him to tell his 14-year-old daughter that “granny and grandpa are coming home”.
Mr Yousaf is one of a number of UK politicians to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, where he said “innocent men women and children…are suffering unimaginable horror”.
In a letter to UK political leaders last week, the first minister said “the killing of innocent civilians can never be justified, wherever it occurs”.
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“Israel, like every other country, has a right to protect itself from attack, but in doing so it must comply with international law,” he said.
“We should stand together and united in unequivocally calling on all parties to commit to an immediate ceasefire to allow a humanitarian corridor to be opened, so that lifesaving supplies can get into Gaza and innocent civilians who want to leave be given safe passage out.
“The situation in Gaza is at the point of being cataclysmic. All of us must do everything we can to prevent that. There must be no more dithering, or delay, together we must call for an immediate ceasefire.”
Mr Yousaf has been joined by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and London mayor Sadiq Khan, who have all defied Sir Keir Starmer in calling for a ceasefire.
The Labour leader has instead backed a humanitarian pause to allow aid into Gaza, saying a ceasefire was not the “correct” approach and would only “embolden” Hamas.
