Nadia El-Nakla tells of her fears for the future of her family trapped in Gaza
By James Cook & Paul O’Hare
Scotland editor
The wife of Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf said her parents, who have been trapped in Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel, are “terrified” about what might happen next.
Nadia El-Nakla also told BBC News some relatives have had their homes destroyed in missile strikes.
Elizabeth El-Nakla and Maged El-Nakla, who live in Dundee, travelled to Gaza last week to see a sick relative.
Days into their trip Hamas killed hundreds of people inside Israel.
On Tuesday Mr Yousaf called for the creation of a humanitarian corridor in and out of locked-down Gaza to be created.
Mr and Mrs El-Nakla were visiting their son – a father-of-four – and Mr El-Nakla’s 92-year-old mother, who is ill.
Ms El-Nakla said: “They are now caught up in a war situation.
“My mother says that there is continual bombardment from land, sea and air.”
She said her mother had not slept since Monday and feels as if “every part of her body is shaking”.
The family had hoped to escape on Tuesday but the Rafah border, between Gaza and Egypt, was bombed and there was currently no way out.
Speaking in Bute House, the first minister’s official residence in Edinburgh, Ms El-Nakla said: “They are just terrified, absolutely terrified, about what is to come and what is happening right now as we speak.”
Image source, Yousaf family handout
Elizabeth El-Nakla and Maged El-Nakla, who are from Dundee, were visiting family in Gaza when the Hamas attacks happened
Earlier, her mother recorded a moving 40-second video clip from the city of Deir al-Balah in which she detailed the family’s plight.
Close to tears, she said: “We have no electricity. We have no water. The food we do have, which is little, will not last because there is no electricity and it will spoil.
“I have four grandchildren in this home – a two-month-old baby, a four-year-old and, today, two nine-year-old twins. Their birthday.
“I ask the world to help the Palestinians.”
More on Hamas-Israel attacks
On Tuesday Mr Yousaf said his wife’s family had described the situation as “pretty horrendous”.
Throughout Monday night and into Tuesday morning they could hear missiles and jets.
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.”
Mr Yousaf also revealed his brother-in-law, who is a doctor in Gaza, had worked a 24-hour shift and warned that medical supplies were at the lowest he had ever seen.
Image source, PA Media
Humza Yousaf and Nadia El-Naka pictured at the King’s Coronation in May
Meanwhile, Mr Yousaf has urged the foreign secretary to call for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
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 through the Rafah border.
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.”
Vigil for victims
The Glasgow Jewish community will later hold a “silent and peaceful” vigil for the victims in Israel on the steps of the Royal Concert Hall.
Among those remembered will be grandfather Bernard Cowan, who was confirmed on Monday as the first Scottish victim of the Hamas assault on Israel.
Mr Cowan grew up in the Glasgow area and settled in Israel, near the Gaza border, with his wife and three children.
On Wednesday an official UK source told the BBC 17 British nationals, including children, are dead or missing in Israel.
