Scotland’s first minister has said his parents-in-law are “trapped” in Gaza and is fearful whether they will “make it through the night or not”.
The parents of Humza Yousaf’s wife Nadia El-Nakla were in Gaza visiting family when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel at the weekend, killing hundreds, according to reports.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Mr Yousaf said: “As many will know, my wife is Palestinian. Her mum and dad, my in-laws, who live in Dundee, live in Scotland, they’ve been in Gaza and are currently trapped in Gaza, I’m afraid.”
The trapped couple were visiting the father-in-law’s 92-year-old “elderly and frail” mother when the Hamas attack took place.
They have since been told by Israeli authorities to leave because “Gaza will effectively be obliterated”, the first minister said.
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Mr Yousaf, who issued an “unequivocal condemnation” of the Hamas assault, said: “Despite the best efforts of the British Foreign Office, nobody, nobody can guarantee them safe passage anywhere.
“So, I’m in a situation where, frankly, night by night, day by day, we don’t know whether or not my mother-in-law and father-in-law – who have nothing to do, as most Gazans don’t, with Hamas or with any terror attack – whether they will make it through the night or not.”
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The first minister said both he and his wife “cannot sleep” due to worry for her parents.
He said: “We cannot sleep – we are constantly watching our phones.
“When our messages do get through, we’re waiting for a reply.”
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The human cost of the Israel-Hamas war
He added: “I’m worried about my family. There will be many people, including in Scotland’s Jewish community for example, who will be really worried about their family in Israel that have come to harm.
“My thoughts go out to everybody, because innocent civilians have nothing to do with the conflict, they have nothing to do with Hamas terror, have nothing to do with the loss of life and they’re the ones often – innocent people – who are paying the price.”
At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and 560 have died in Gaza as Israel retaliated with airstrikes in an operation which has been dubbed “Swords of Iron”.
Israeli forces are currently fighting Hamas in two locations inside Israel, after the country formally declared war on the militant group.
More than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing in Israel, Sky News understands.
Mr Yousaf has said he does not know how many Scots have been caught up in the fighting.
The first minister praised communications with the Foreign Office as “good”, but said it was not yet clear who was in the region and how they’ve been impacted.
