Humza Yousaf’s parents-in-law escape Gaza
Relatives of Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s first minister, have escaped Gaza after being trapped since the war broke out.
Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, from Dundee, were among 92 British citizens approved to travel through the Rafah crossing and into Egypt on Friday.
Mr Yousaf’s parents-in-law travelled to Gaza to visit family before the conflict erupted and have described trying to survive without clean water and “dwindling supplies”.
It is understood they arrived at the crossing early on Friday after the Palestinian Border Authority published a list overnight naming the foreigners who will be allowed to cross.
It stated that those approved to leave must be “present at 7am in the outdoor halls of the crossing to facilitate their travel”.
The Rafah crossing is the only exit out of Gaza not controlled by Israel.
It was closed after Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct 7 and Egypt has said it will not accept an influx of Palestinian refugees in case Israel stops them returning after the war.
Crossing open briefly
The crossing has opened briefly for humanitarian aid to enter the besieged Palestinian enclave and, in recent days, some injured Gazans and foreign nationals have been allowed to leave as fighting in the region intensifies.
Palestinians with foreign papers and 42 others were allowed to leave Gaza according to the Palestinian Border Authority.
A new list of those approved to use the crossing contains the names of more than 500 people, including Italians, Germans, two Irish dependants, one Moroccan, 31 Palestinians and one Palestinian dependant.
Mr Yousaf has issued an “unequivocal condemnation” of the Hamas attack and said both he and his wife, Nadia, “cannot sleep” owing to worry about their family members.
The Scottish government has given £750,000 to assist relief efforts and help displaced people in Gaza access food, water, shelter and medical supplies.
More than 8,800 people are now estimated to have died following strikes carried out in retaliation for the Hamas attacks in Israel.
