Humza Yousaf's brother-in-law refuses to leave Gaza – what we know about his trapped family

SNP first minister Humza Yousaf has opened up several times about being "torn apart with worry" over his wife's family being stuck in Gaza.

But despite the danger many of his in-laws have done all they can to help those in need, it has emerged.

Soon after Israel began its siege of the Gaza Strip, Yousaf revealed his parents-in-law were trapped in the territory.

His wife Nadia El-Nakla is a psychotherapist and was born in Dundee.

Her mother Elizabeth, who was also born in Dundee, and her father Maged, who was born in Palestine, arrived in Gaza to visit their wider family days before the conflict broke out on 7 October.

Elizabeth is also a serving councillor for the SNP in Dundee.

The first minister and his wife have said they are "living in a nightmare" over the worry for their family.

Yousaf has already been critical of the UK government's approach to the conflict.

Read more: Humza Yousaf feels 'powerless' to protect family members trapped in Gaza (Sky News)

On Thursday he criticised foreign secretary James Cleverly and urged him to call for a ceasefire.

In reference to his family, Yousaf said: "Shameful that UK citizens trapped in Gaza don't even get a mention. Might be helpful if you give them at least a passing mention in your discussions.

"They're trapped in a war zone and need you, foreign secretary, to demand a ceasefire."

Yousaf also used his first address to the SNP conference as leader this week to call for the UK government to set up a refugee resettlement scheme for those seeking to flee Gaza, stating that Scotland could be the first place to take people in.

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Brother-in-law

On Thursday, Yousaf shared a video on X, formerly Twitter, of his brother-in-law Mohammed working in a hospital in Gaza.

Yousaf said: "My brother-in-law, a doctor in Gaza, is spending his seventh consecutive day in hospital. Nadia spoke to him and said he should go home to rest, his response, 'I can't leave my people when they need me.' Health workers in Gaza are heroes."

Yousaf previously told broadcasters his brother-in-law had been forced to decide who to treat due to a lack of medical supplies.

Mother and father-in-law

Both of Yousaf's wife's parents are currently stuck in Gaza after they arrived to visit Maged's 92-year-old mother and their wider family.

Yousaf told the BBC: "We are just as you can imagine because their supplies are low."

Last week, Yousaf shared a clip of Elizabeth on Instagram where she said: "We have no water."

Elizabeth said: "My thought is all these people in the hospital can not be evacuated where's humanity, where's people's hearts in the world to let this happen in this day and age, may god help us."

On Wednesday, SNP MP Chris Law told the House of Commons that Elizabeth El-Nakla had said her final goodbyes in a call with her daughter and the first minister that morning.

According to the MP, she said: "Last night was the end for me, better if my heart stops and then I will be at peace, I can't take another night.”

Law said members of Elizabeth's family had been struck by a rocket launched by a drone on Tuesday.

Nadia told The Guardian the family had ignored Israel's order to evacuate the northern part of Gaza and they had stayed in the home in Deir al-Balah, in the middle of the territory.

Wife's cousins

Nadia also said three of her cousins from Gaza, including a two-year-old had shrapnel injuries.

She told The Guardian: "I'm still trying to seek clarity from my mum about this because she was so upset, but she said they got hit when a missile drone hit off metal.

"So thankfully it didn’t hit them directly, but the kids – especially the two-year-old – have a lot of shrapnel under their skin."

Nadia said her mother, who is a former nurse, was now trying to treat the children with whatever tools they could find.