FIRST Minister Humza Yousaf has said he “cannot sleep” for worry about his family trapped in Gaza as he called for innocent civilians to be given safe passage out of the war-torn area.
The SNP leader’s comments come after Saturday’s unprecedented ground assault by Hamas on Israel, with fighters entering communities in lorries, on boats, and by hang-gliders and reportedly taking dozens captive.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country at war and on Monday, defence minister Yoav Gallant ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza.
"There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed," The Times of Israel reported him telling commanders at the Israel Defense Forces' Southern Command.
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Speaking to journalists, Scotland’s First Minister said that thought should be given to the millions of people living in Gaza who have “nothing to do with Hamas”.
Yousaf said: “First and foremost, let me put on record the Government's condemnation of the terror attack by Hamas, the unequivocal condemnation. It's horrific to see innocent lives lost, whether those innocent lives are Israelis or innocent lives of Palestinians being lost. It is heartbreaking to see.”
Describes Hamas’ actions as a “barbaric act of terror. There's no ifs or buts or maybes about the condemnation of that attack” and hopes for a humanitarian corridor to allow people to leave Gaza. pic.twitter.com/eOmOfG8V0Y
— @GinaDavidson (@ginadavidsonlbc) October 9, 2023
He went on: “My own family situation, 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.
“My father-in law-went to visit his 92-year-old, elderly and frail mother, and we've been on the phone to them over the last 48, 72 hours. They're trapped.
“They've been told by the Israeli authorities to leave Gaza because Gaza will effectively be obliterated. But they've got nowhere to go.
“And 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'll make it through the night or not.”
Humza Yousaf's parents-in-law Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla (above), and the First Minister with his wife Nadia El-Nakla (below)
Yousaf said that he and his wife Nadia El-Nakla “cannot sleep”, adding: “We are constantly watching our phones. When our messages do get through, we're waiting for a reply.
“The family now have been told, and all of Gazans have been told, that Gaza will not get food supplies, fuel supplies, electricity supplies. So I'm worried about my family.
“There'll be many people, including those in Scotland's Jewish community, for example, who will be really worried about their family in Israel that have come to harm. And my thoughts go out to everybody because innocent civilians have nothing to do with the conflict, nothing to do with Hamas terror, have nothing to do with the loss of life.
“And they are the ones, often innocent people who are paying a price.
“My mother-in-law is Dundee born and bred, a retired nurse from Ninewells. She has nothing to do with Hamas.
“But she's trapped now in Gaza, unable to get out – but being told to leave, because if they don't leave then they could end up coming to harm's way.”
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Yousaf added that while he “completely” understands Israel’s right to defend its citizens, “what cannot be allowed to happen is the collective punishment of 2.2 million people in Gaza”.
The SNP leader said: “Remember, the majority of Gazans are children. The overwhelming majority of Gazans have nothing to do with Hamas.
“We cannot allow them to be collectively punished for the actions – the disgraceful, unacceptable, unjustifiable actions – of Hamas.
“So, I really hope that those who are in Gaza are given some sort of safe passage. There is a humanitarian corridor that is created in order to allow them to leave. Whether it's those who have lived in Gaza for a number of years, or whether it's people like my father-in-law and mother-in-law.”
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