Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf’s in-laws have arrived home after spending the last four weeks trapped in Gaza.
Mr Yousaf shared a photo of himself, his wife Nadia El-Nakla and the family reunited, adding: “This has been a traumatic few weeks. I can’t begin to tell you the impact it has had on Nadia and our family, particularly my in-laws.”
Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla had been in Gaza to visit a sick relative when the war erupted after the Hamas attacks on Israel of 7 October.
They were only able to leave the besieged enclave on Friday through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, almost four weeks later.
Mr El-Nakla had to leave behind his mother, son and grandchildren in Gaza and said “my heart is broken in two”.
Mr Yousaf said his father-in-law “broke down telling me how hard it was saying goodbye to them”.
He added: “All of the family is so pleased to have them back home in Scotland. However, our thoughts remain with those who can’t leave and are trapped in a war zone.
“We will continue to raise our voices for peace and to stop the killing of innocent men, women and children in Gaza.”
Mr Yousaf confirmed on Friday that his family were amongst 92 foreigners who had been granted permission to leave Gaza on Friday, with the politician describing the ordeal as a “living nightmare” for his family.
Earlier that week, the First Minister said that the El-Naklas had run out of clean drinking water in the house they were staying in with family and several young grandchildren in the war zone.
Mr Yousaf has asked the UK Government to call on Israel to implement a ceasefire.