Elizabeth El-Nakla and Maged El-Nakla, the parents of Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf’s wife, Nadia El-Nakla, are presently trapped in Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel and are “terrified” of what may come next, according to Nadia. In discussions with the BBC, she disclosed that some relatives have been hit by missile strikes that destroyed their homes. The couple, who reside in Dundee, travelled to Gaza last week to visit a sick family member, but days later, Hamas killed hundreds of people inside Israel. Mr Yousaf recently called for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor in and out of Gaza, where his family members, including his father-in-law, are trapped as violence between Israel and Hamas continues.
Maged El-Nakla’s 92-year-old mother, who is ill, and their son, a father of four, are with the couple. Nadia reported that her mother hasn’t slept since Monday and feels as if “every part of her body is shaking.” The family had hoped to flee on Tuesday, but the Rafah border was bombed, and there was no way out for them. Ms El-Nakla is anxious about the impact of the conflict on her brother’s young children, primarily her eight-week-old nephew. Her mother recorded an emotional 40-second video from the city of Deir al-Balah, asking the world to help the Palestinians, in which she explained their situation.
Meanwhile, Mr Yousaf has requested that the foreign secretary, James Cleverly, ask for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza in a letter. The Scottish first minister urged him to use the positive relationship between the UK and Israel to persuade civilians in Gaza to be allowed to depart. On the steps of the Royal Concert Hall later, the Glasgow Jewish community will hold a “silent and peaceful” vigil honoring the victims in Israel. Among those commemorated will be Bernard Cowan, a grandfather who was verified on Monday as the Hamas attack’s first Scottish victim in Israel
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