Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, has said his wife’s parents have become trapped in Gaza after visiting an elderly relative.
Mr Yousaf, who has roundly condemned the recent actions of Hamas, said, “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.”
The couple became trapped after visiting the 93-year-old mother of Yousaf’s father-in-law. Israelis have warned them to leave as “Gaza will effectively be obliterated.” The first minister said that his wife, Nadia El Nakla, cannot sleep with worry.
The death toll in this conflict is unknown and is still climbing as the conflict continues. Israel prepares what it calls a counter-offensive code-named ‘swords of iron.’ Some believe that this will end with a significant IDF presence within Gaza. But we know that the Israeli Air Force has flown countless airstrikes.
In addition to the air campaign, the IDF is tasked with repairing border fences and clearing any mines or booby traps left by Hamas. Minor skirmishes have also been reported as the remnants of Hamas are contained.
With all this taking place, it’s no wonder poor Nadia cannot sleep. While politics in the modern age can become contentious and divisive, times like these show, we should never let events undermine our humanity.
The Yousaf family’s fear and anxiety for their loved ones is entirely justified. It is no exaggeration that the Gaza Strip is now the most dangerous place on earth, and the chances of a 93-year-old are slim to none.
So it would seem the fate of Yousaf’s in-laws now rests in the hands of the Israeli Government. Who I hope are doing all they can to save the lives of foreign nationals and innocent Palestinians. Despite Hamas’s stupid and criminal actions, it can hardly be fair for a 93-year-old grandmother to face the overwhelming force of the region’s most powerful military.
The Homeland Party hopes for the safe return of Nadia’s parents and that her grandmother remains safe and well. Despite our differences, nobody should wish for the horrors of a brutal war to take the lives of other families because at the heart of our politics is family, and that’s the one thing we all have in common.
