Humza Yousaf: My in-laws are trapped in Gaza

Scotland's first minister says his parents-in-law are "trapped" in Gaza, as he unequivocally condemned the attacks by Hamas in Israel.

Humza Yousaf said his wife's parents, who live in Dundee, travelled to Gaza to see her father's sick mother.

The Israelis have told them to leave, but Mr Yousaf said they had no way to get out and the UK Foreign Office could not guarantee safe passage.

He said he and his wife were "sick with worry" that they would not survive.

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

Mr Yousaf told the BBC he strongly condemned the "unjustifiable" actions of Hamas.

"There can be no equivocation about that condemnation, and the Scottish government is strong in its condemnation, " he said.

"What we have unfortunately seen is many innocent people lose their lives in the course of the last 48 and 72 hours.

"The lives of an innocent Israeli are to me equal to the lives of an innocent Palestinian.

"Many innocent people on both sides are losing their lives and that cannot be justified in any way, shape or form."

The first minister said many Jewish families in Scotland would be worried about family members that they have not heard from.

More than 10 British citizens are feared dead or missing in Israel after the weekend's attack by Hamas, an official UK source has told the BBC.

Bernard Cowan, from Glasgow, has been identified by family members on social media as having been killed in the attack.

Mr Yousaf said his in-laws Maged and Elizabeth El-Nakla had been visiting his father-in-law's 92-year-old mother when the Hamas attack took place.

He said they were told by Israeli authorities to leave because "Gaza will effectively be obliterated".

Gaza is home to about 2.3 million people, 80% of whom rely on aid.

More than 500 people have died there in Israel's retaliatory strikes and the region could now be on the brink of a new humanitarian crisis.

Mr Yousaf said: "Despite the best efforts of the British Foreign Office, nobody can guarantee them safe passage anywhere.

"So I'm in a situation where we don't know whether or not my mother-in-law and father-in-law, who have nothing to do - as most Gazans don't - with Hamas or with any terror attack, will make it through the night or not."

Since the attacks began on Saturday morning, Israel has stopped all supplies entering Gaza, including food and medicine.

Many people are without electricity and internet access, and could soon be out of essential food and water supplies.

Even before the latest restrictions, residents of Gaza faced widespread food insecurity, restrictions on movement and water shortages.

Mr Yousaf's brother-in-law also lives in Gaza with his four children including a two-month-old baby.

The family is running out of baby milk, and only have about two-days of supplies for the rest of the family, Mr Yousaf said.

Mr Yousaf reiterated that his family had "nothing to do with Hamas".

He said: "My mother-in-law is a retired nurse from Ninewells [Hospital], my brother-in-law who lives in Gaza is a doctor, but they, along with a lot of other Gazans, are potentially going to suffer collective punishment and that cannot be justified."

The first minster said that he had been in touch with the Foreign Office about Scots caught up in the situation, but no numbers were provided.

"Whatever I can do to support our Jewish communities and Muslim communities - who will both be fearful of reprisal, attack, hatred - I will do whatever I can to protect our communities across Scotland."

Mr Yousaf was asked if he would call the Hamas gunmen "terrorists". He said: "Of course, unequivocally."

The First Minister said he believed a two-state solution in Israel was the only way to stop the cycle of violence in Israel and Palestine. He said the Scottish government would not fly Israeli or Palestinian flags from its buildings, but would focus on how it could ensure the safety of any Scots in Israel or Gaza.

He also commented on a call from Scottish Conservative MSP Jackson Carlow to "terminate" the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Green Party over "victim-blaming" statements from its MSP Maggie Chapman.

Mr Yousaf said "Maggie Chapman speaks for Maggie Chapman".

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