Israel-Gaza attacks: Yousaf makes contact with trapped in-laws

Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf has spoken to his parents-in-law who are trapped in in Gaza as a result of Israeli attacks.

Mr Yousaf's wife's parents, who live in Dundee, had travelled to Gaza to see her father's sick mother.

The first minister said his wife's family survived the night but described the situation as "pretty horrendous".

Mr Yousaf has called for a humanitarian corridor in and out of Gaza to be created.

Nadia El-Nakla's parents travelled to Gaza from Scotland about a week ago and were there when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel this weekend.

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Mr Yousaf said: "Thankfully she survived the night, they're safe for now - but I use that term very loosely in terms of how safe they are."

Throughout Monday night and into Tuesday morning, his mother-in-law Elizabeth El-Nakla said they could hear missiles and jets, causing them to be "terrified", Mr Yousaf said.

He added: "I think the worst thing is that they feel literally trapped. They're being told to leave... but they have nowhere to go.

"The Rafah border had been bombed and even if it was open, there's no guarantee of safe passage travelling between where they live and the Rafah border."

The family - which includes a 93-year-old woman previously described as "frail" by Mr Yousaf - have just one day of supplies left, he said.

Elizabeth El-Nakla and Maged El-Nakla, who are from Dundee, were visiting family in Gaza when the Hamas attacks happened

Mr Yousaf was also able to give an insight into the medical situation in Gaza, where his brother-in-law is a doctor.

"He's done a 24-hour shift and has said medical supplies are at the lowest he's ever seen, to the point where they're having to use bits of their own clothes to try to bandage and tourniquet wounds where they can," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Yousaf has urged the foreign secretary to call for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.

Humanitarian corridor

In a letter to James Cleverly, the first minister urged him to use the positive relationship between the UK and Israel to push for civilians in Gaza to be allowed to leave.

He wrote: "Too many innocent people have already lost their lives as a consequence of these completely unjustifiable and illegitimate attacks by Hamas.

"However, innocent men, women and children cannot, and should not, pay the price for the actions of a terrorist group.

"As a close friend and ally of Israel, I therefore ask the UK government to call on the government of Israel to ensure innocent civilians are protected and to put in place an immediate ceasefire to allow the safe passage of civilians through the Rafah border.

"Furthermore, it should open a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to allow supplies, including food, fuel, water and medical supplies for those civilians who are trapped, helpless and cannot leave."

Talks with Egypt

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson, said: "We have been speaking with Egypt about maintaining the land crossing from Gaza into Egypt.

"We have to remember Hamas is bringing pain on the Palestinian people on purpose. They murdered many hundreds of Israelis, knowing Israel would be forced to react.

"Israel of course has a right to defend itself with a proportionate response.

"We need to remember this was initiated by a widespread terrorist response by Hamas."