Humza Yousaf’s family cross Gaza border to safetyon November 3, 2023 at 1:14 pm

Humza Yousaf has said his family have left Gaza after being trapped in the territory for more than three weeks.

The first minister’s parents-in-law had been unable to leave following the attacks on Israel by Hamas.

Elizabeth El-Nakla and her husband Maged – the parents of Mr Yousaf’s wife Nadia – travelled to Gaza to see a sick relative.

They were among a number of British nationals who have now entered Egypt through the Rafah crossing.

The couple, from Dundee, had spent the past two weeks in a house where 100 people were sheltering, including a child of two months old.

Ms El-Nakla’s brother, his family, her elderly grandmother and stepmother all remain in Gaza.

The Rafah crossing, which offers the only way in and out of Gaza, was opened by Egypt on Wednesday.

A list published overnight by the Palestinian Border Authority said those named must be “present at 07:00 in the outdoor halls of the crossing to facilitate their travel”.

Injured Palestinians and 335 foreign passport holders, including some British nationals, were the first to be allowed to cross.

A statement from Mr Yousaf and Ms El-Nakla confirmed the couple had made it safely through the crossing on Friday morning.

It said: “We are grateful to all of those who have assisted our parents over the last few weeks, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office crisis team.

“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.”

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “This is great news for Humza Yousaf and his wife Nadia. I’m delighted that their family are safe after weeks of anguish and uncertainty. “

The El-Naklas were among about 200 British nationals believed to have been trapped in Gaza.

Routes in and out of the region were closed after Hamas – which is proscribed as a terrorist group in the UK – attacked Israel on 7 October, killing more than 1,400 people and taking at least 239 hostage.

Since then, the Israeli military has launched a massive bombing campaign on Gaza, placed the strip under a “complete siege” and launched a ground assault on the north of the territory.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 9,000 people have been killed.

Earlier this week Mr Yousaf said he did not know whether his family was alive or dead in Gaza, as it was under a communications blackout.

Ms El-Nakla said her parents had been without clean drinking water and faced “rapidly diminishing supplies”.

Mr Yousaf spoke to the BBC of his feelings of “helplessness and distress” at not being able to do more to get his family home and shared a video of his mother-in-law describing the conditions they were living under in Gaza.