Scottish politician has not heard from wife’s family in Gaza since Friday

Newly appointed leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Humza Yousaf speaks following the SNP Leadership election result announcement at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 27, 2023. Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images/FILE

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf says he has not heard from his wife’s parents in Gaza since communications links were badly disrupted on Friday. 

“Gaza is under intense bombing. Telecommunications have been cut. We can't get through to our family who have been trapped in this war zone for almost 3 weeks. We can only pray they survive the night," Yousaf posted on X, formerly Twitter, late Friday.

In an update on Saturday morning, he said there was still no word from them. “Thank you for your good wishes, I'm afraid we have not heard from my in-laws,” he wrote. 

Yousaf’s parents-in-law, who live in Dundee in Scotland, went to visit family in Gaza about a week before the October 7 attacks, he has previously told UK media. “They can't leave. Gaza is under blockade. And even with the assistance of the Foreign Office now, they cannot guarantee any safe passage to any of the borders,” he said then. 

His brother-in-law also works as a doctor in Gaza and Yousaf shared video of him treating injured children in hospital last week.