After more than three weeks of being trapped in Gaza, the in-laws of Humza Yousaf, Elizabeth El-Nakla and her husband Maged, have finally been reunited with their family in Scotland. The couple managed to escape Gaza via the Rafah crossing and cross into Egypt on Friday. Mr Yousaf confirmed the news on social media and posted a photo of the reunion. He expressed his joy for the safe return of his in-laws but also revealed the emotional pain they feel for leaving behind their relatives in Gaza.
Mr Yousaf’s brother-in-law, who is a hospital doctor, and his family remain in Gaza, as do his wife’s stepmother and grandmother, who were unable to leave as they are not UK passport holders. The couple had been staying in a house where 100 people were sheltering, including a two months old child. They had tried to leave on three previous occasions but were not successful.
While Mr Yousaf is happy to be reunited with his loved ones, he remains mindful of those who continue to live in a war zone and whose plight he will continue to campaign for. “Our thoughts remain with those who can’t leave and are trapped in a war zone. We will continue to raise our voices for peace and to stop the killing of innocent men, women and children in Gaza,” he said.
The return of the couple has brought some relief to the Yousaf family but Mr Yousaf has also acknowledged the traumatic effect this period had on his family, particularly his in-laws. “I’m sure they will tell their story in time. In the meantime, we ask that their privacy is respected,” he added. It’s understood that the couple arrived at Edinburgh airport on Sunday morning
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