Humza Yousaf’s brother-in-law has refused to leave his post as a doctor in Gaza because people “need me”.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Scotland’s First Minister shared a video of bloodied children being treated by medical personnel.
He wrote: “My brother-in-law, a doctor in Gaza, is spending his seventh consecutive day in hospital. Nadia spoke to him & 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.”
On Wednesday, Yousaf's mother-in-law Elizabeth El-Nakla, who is trapped in Gaza, sent her "final goodbyes" to the family.
According to SNP MP Chris Law, speaking in the Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions, El-Nakla told her family she "can't take another night" in a call with the First Minister and her daughter, Nadia.
My brother-in-law, a doctor in Gaza, is spending his seventh consecutive day in hospital. Nadia spoke to him & 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. (video shared with family's permission) pic.twitter.com/mMbG1IRx51
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) October 19, 2023
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, the First Minister said he had just spoken with his mother-in-law, who had told him they were safe.
“We are just torn apart with worry as you can imagine, because their supplies are low,” he said.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with families on Thursday whose loved ones have been held hostage by Hamas following the attacks on October 7.
In a post on X, Sunak is pictured hugging a woman, who was not identified.
The post said: “To have a child taken from you is a parent’s worst nightmare.
“This morning I heard from families going through this unbearable agony.
“Working with our partners, we’re determined to secure the release of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists.”
