Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf has his flaws as a politician but when it comes to the brutal attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists, his response has been clear, dignified and – given his family’s current circumstances – courageous. Yousaf has risen to the moment.
The SNP leader’s parents-in-law, Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla of Dundee, are currently trapped in Gaza, running out of food and fearful for their lives. The First Minister’s wife, Nadia, is said, unsurprisingly, to be distraught.
Having spent several hours trying to make contact with her parents, in Gaza to visit her elderly grandmother, Ms El-Nakla has been able to speak to her mother who described the impact of Israel’s retaliation to Saturday’s terrorist outrage during which hundreds were murdered.
‘I’m afraid the situation is dire,’ said Yousaf. ‘They had a terrible night. Rockets were falling all around them, the house was shaking, the children were screaming most of the night. They have, according to my mother-in-law, one day of supplies left. They’re terrified to try to go out to any market, given that they’ve all been told to stay indoors.’
‘I’m afraid the situation is dire,’ said Yousaf. ‘Rockets were falling all around them, the children were screaming’
‘Of course, they’re being told to leave, because we all know what’s going to happen to Gaza. But they’ve got nowhere to go. They have no way of getting out. So we’re in a really desperate situation where the family is still trapped.’
The First Minister’s brother-in-law, who is a doctor, also lives in Gaza with his four children, including a two-month-old baby.
In a letter to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Yousaf has asked UK ministers to lobby their Israeli counterparts to allow both safe passage for those who, like his in-laws, wish to leave Gaza and the creation of a ‘humanitarian corridor’ for the delivery of supplies – including food, fuel, water, and medicines – to those who are unable to flee.
This seems a reasonable request. Israel’s right to defend its people is absolute and its desire to retaliate against Hamas is just. But the punishment of innocents for the evil of others is impossible to justify.
Yousaf’s letter to Cleverly is devoid of politics. Rather, it makes a compelling humanitarian case. Yousaf’s position on the brutality of Hamas has been clear. In the aftermath of Saturday’s invasion, he strongly condemned their barbarity. There could, he said, be neither justification nor equivocation for their actions.
Naturally, this was not enough for some who will never accept a Muslim First Minister. The racist and Islamophobic abuse Yousaf has received online since Saturday is both depressing and entirely predictable. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has faced the same.
Of course, Yousaf’s condemnation of Hamas and his expression of solidarity with Scotland’s Jewish community after the attack on Israel are the minimum requirements of a First Minister at a time such as this. But that should not allow us to lose sight of the courage he displayed in speaking as he did.
Hamas controls Gaza through fear. With an extended family living in the area, it may have been tempting for the First Minister to pull his punches.
Yousaf – with his liberal views – is already the wrong kind of Muslim for Hamas. Speaking as he has in recent days is not, I’m afraid, without risk for Scotland’s First Minister and his loved ones. It is hugely to his credit, then, that he has put the duties of leadership first.
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