Humza Yousaf’s mother-in-law has issued an emotional plea for “humanity” as she spoke out on the conditions in Gaza.
The mother of the Scottish first minister’s wife had travelled from her home in Scotland last week to visit family in Gaza.
She has been trapped along with her husband in the enclave since Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in response to Hamas’s terror attack at the weekend.
Israel has called on Palestinians to evacuate to the southern part of Gaza ahead of an expected ground offensive, while Hamas has told people to stay put.
Humza Yousaf's mother-in-law has spoken out on the conditions in Gaza
X / HUMZA YOUSAF
Elizabeth El-Nakla, speaking in a video posted to X, said “everybody from Gaza is moving towards where we are.
“One million people, no food, no water - and still they’re bombing them as they’re leaving.
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“Where are you going to put them? But my thought is - all these people in the hospital cannot be evacuated.
“Where is humanity? Where’s people’s hearts in the world to let this happen in this day and age? May God help us, goodbye.”
Posting the video to X was Yousaf, who said: “This is Elizabeth El-Nakla. She is my mother-in-law. A retired nurse from Dundee, Scotland.
“She, like the vast majority of people in Gaza, has nothing to do with Hamas. She has been told to leave Gaza but, like the rest of the population, is trapped with nowhere to go.”
Yousaf has called on Israel to scale back on their bombardment of Gaza
PAYousaf told the BBC that his mother-in-law was in a “real state of distress”, adding that he felt it necessary to share the clip to show how ordinary Palestinians are suffering.
Yousaf predecessor Nicola Sturgeon waded in by commenting on the video, tweeting: “My heart breaks for the people of Israel and all the innocent civilians in Gaza who are also paying the price of Hamas’s appalling acts of terror.
“Closer to home, my thoughts are with my friends Nadia and Humza and their family, and also with Scotland’s precious Jewish community, at this unimaginably awful time.”
Yousaf has condemned reports from the United Nations that 1.1 million Palestinians were ordered to vacate northern Gaza within 24 hours, by the Israeli military.
The region subject to the order includes Gaza’s biggest hospital, which Human Rights Watch has said is dealing with more than 6,000 casualties, and two major refugee camps.
The UN described the military order as “devastating”.
Yousaf said there was “no justification for the death of innocent men, women and children”.
Posting on Twitter, formerly known as X, Yousaf said: “UN has said the order to move 1.1m people in 24 hours will lead to ‘devastating humanitarian consequences’.
“The international community must step up and demand an end to collective punishment.
“Enough. There can be no justification for the death of innocent men, women & children.”