Tearful Humza Yousaf says Israel is ‘going too far’ in response to Hamas atrocities as SNP leader accuses Rishi Sunak of snubbing plea to help his mother-in-law who is trapped in Gaza
- Last week, Elizabeth El-Nakla and her husband Maged traveled from their residence in Scotland to Gaza to visit their family.
Humza Yousaf expressed his distress as he criticized Israel for their excessive actions and imposition of ‘collective punishment’ on Gaza in response to the atrocities committed by Hamas.
The leader of the SNP emphasized his support for the nation’s right to protect itself in the face of the terrible attacks. However, he called for a cessation of hostilities and an end to the blockade.
In emotional interviews ahead of the separatists’ party conference, Mr Humza also spoke of his sense of powerlessness with his mother-in-law trapped in Gaza.
Last week, Elizabeth El-Nakla, who is the mother of Nadia, Humza Yousaf’s wife, traveled from Scotland to visit her family along with her husband, Maged.
Mr. Yousaf expressed that Rishi Sunak had not reached out to him despite his heartfelt pleas, and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had ignored his pleas for assistance.
With tears streaming down his face, he mentioned that he had informed his four-year-old daughter that her grandmother would return home in time for Halloween. However, deep down, he was uncertain if this would actually happen.
Elizabeth El-Nakla, who is the mother of Nadia, Humza Yousaf’s wife, recently journeyed from Scotland to Gaza along with her husband Maged to visit their family. However, due to the recent Hamas attack on Israel and the resulting retaliations, she is currently unable to leave and is considered ‘trapped’ in Gaza.
Israel has issued a cautionary message to civilians, advising them to relocate to the southern region of the Gaza Strip in preparation for an expected ground attack. The objective of this offensive is to remove Hamas, a group known for utilizing civilians as a cover for their activities.
The area affected by the directive encompasses Gaza’s largest medical facility, which Human Rights Watch has reported to be attending to over 6,000 injured individuals, along with two significant refugee camps.
The United Nations has expressed concern that conducting the evacuation within the given timeframe is not feasible.
British officials have acknowledged that Israel has the authority to respond to the terrorist attacks, but have cautioned against any violation of international law.
Speaking from Deir Al-Balah, south of Gaza city, Ms El-Nakla – who said the video would be her ‘last’ – said: ‘Everybody from Gaza is moving towards where we are.
As one million individuals are deprived of food and water, they are being subjected to bombings even as they attempt to depart.
Where do you plan to place them?
However, I believe that it is not possible to evacuate all the individuals currently in the hospital.
Where has humanity gone? Where are the compassionate hearts of people in this world, allowing such events to occur in the present time?
‘Farewell, may God assist us.’
In a post alongside the video, Mr Yousaf 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 received instructions to depart Gaza, but, similar to the entire population, she is confined without any available options for relocation.
Israel has reportedly urged Palestinians, as per the UN, to relocate to the southern region of the Gaza Strip before a potential ground attack. However, Hamas has requested them to remain where they are.
Nadia El-Nakla’s parents, who are the spouse of Humza Yousaf, are currently unable to leave Gaza.
During the interviews later today, Mr. Yousaf informed the BBC that he had found the video ‘challenging to view alongside my wife earlier today’.
However, he stated that it indicated that the general population of Gaza is not affiliated with Hamas.
More than half of them are children, but they are doctors and nurses who are being instructed to depart without having any place to go.
‘Rafah has closed, the Erez border is closed. And there is a humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding, and the collective punishment of 2.2million Gazans just cannot be justified.’
Mr. Yousaf expressed complete empathy towards the individuals in Israel who tragically lost their lives, including men, women, and children.
“He stated that we cannot have any additional amount. The current quantity is sufficient.”
We require the international community to take action and urge Israel’s allies to demand a cessation of hostilities. Additionally, it is crucial to establish accessible humanitarian routes for the delivery of supplies and the safe evacuation of individuals.
He stated: ‘No one has denied Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism.
We have all expressed this sentiment, including myself, but it is not justifiable to impose collective punishment.
An Israeli soldier sifts the wreckage at the Kibbutz Beeri, the place where 270 revellers were killed by militants during the Supernova music festival on October 7
Mr Yousaf has called on the global community to increase their efforts.
‘They are going too far, collective punishment cannot be justified. It is innocent men, women, children, babies, with nothing to do with Hamas, who are paying an extraordinary price for those atrocious attacks, that they have nothing to do with.’
The evacuation order issued by Israel should be adhered to by British citizens residing in Gaza, as stated by the Foreign Office.
A representative stated that the travel advice has been revised to suggest that British citizens in Gaza adhere to Israel’s instructions, if feasible. However, it is acknowledged that this may pose difficulties for certain individuals.
“We fully support Israel in their efforts to combat the terrorism of Hamas. Due to Hamas’ presence among the civilian population in Gaza, it is crucial to take all necessary actions to safeguard civilians and facilitate secure humanitarian assistance.”
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon was one of the first to comment on the post made by Mr Humza’s mother-in-law. She expressed her sympathy for the people of Israel and the innocent civilians in Gaza who are suffering due to the acts of terror committed by Hamas.
‘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.’