92 British Nationals Evacuated From Gaza Strip, Including First Minister’s In-Laws
Elizabeth El-Nakla and her husband Maged El-Nakla, who are the in-laws of SNP leader Humza Yousaf, were part of a group of 100 British nationals evacuated from Gaza. Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf confirmed that his in-laws, Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, were granted permission to cross the border from the Gaza Strip into Egypt on Friday. The couple, who reside in Dundee, were visiting Maged’s 92-year-old mother when the Hamas attack on Israel took place on October 7. The list included 92 British citizens, out of a total of 127 individuals listed under the UK section, which is believed to include people with the right to remain in Britain.
Israel’s military response has left the Gaza Strip in a state of siege, resulting in shortages of power, fuel, and food. However, on Friday, the El-Naklas were able to cross the Rafah crossing and reach safety in Egypt. They were included in a list of people allowed to leave the Hamas-controlled territory by the Palestinian Border Authority. Humza Yousaf expressed his “deep personal relief” that his wife’s parents were able to escape the heavily bombarded Gaza Strip.
The couple resorted to drinking seawater after the potable water in Gaza ran out. The UK Border Force has been deployed in Egypt for the past two weeks in an effort to evacuate the 200 British nationals from Gaza. On Wednesday, two British aid workers fled Gaza, and additional UK citizens were able to reach Egypt on Thursday, according to the Foreign Office.
When asked about the situation, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat declined to provide a detailed explanation, stating that there are many factors at play and that providing a running commentary would be inappropriate. He assured the public that the UK Government, including the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, is fully committed to ensuring the safety of British citizens and assisting them in leaving the dangerous situation in Gaza.
Related Stories
The Gaza Strip is currently facing an extreme humanitarian crisis, characterized by shortages of food, water, and fuel. The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza reported that since October 7, more than 9,000 people, including 2,000 children, have been killed. As a result, tens of thousands of civilians have fled Gaza City and Beit Hanoun to safer areas, as advised by the Israeli authorities. The Israel Defense Forces have advanced to the sea in the past 24 hours, effectively isolating Hamas positions in Gaza City from the rest of the strip. However, Hamas has constructed an extensive network of tunnels that may allow them to evade the encirclement.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has
Source link
