Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf says his in-laws, Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, were among 92 British nationals who were given permission to cross the border from the Gaza Strip into Egypt on Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. El-Nakla, who live in Dundee, had been visiting his 92-year-old mother when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel and murdered 1,400 people on Oct. 7.
The list listed 92 people described as British citizens, out of a total of 127 people named 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 besieged and short of power, fuel and food, but on Friday, the El-Naklas were able to pass through the Rafah crossing to safety in Egypt.
The couple were named on a list of people allowed out of the Hamas-controlled territory by the Palestinian Border Authority.
Mr. Yousaf said he felt “deep personal relief” that his wife’s parents had managed to make it out of the Gaza Strip, which remains under heavy Israeli bombardment.
The couple had to drink seawater after Gaza’s last potable water ran out.
The UK Border Force has been deployed in Egypt for the past fortnight in a bid to get the 200 British nationals out.
Two British aid workers fled Gaza on Wednesday and the Foreign Office said more UK nationals were able to make it into Egypt on Thursday.
Minister Cannot Give ‘Running Commentary’
He told Sky News, “Different families will have different pressures and different ways, so you will understand that it is not very easy to give a running commentary and it would be the wrong thing to do.”Mr. Tugendhat said, “I can give this absolute assurance that the UK Government from the prime minister, the foreign secretary, me and many others, have been absolutely committed to making sure we look after British citizens as best as we possibly can and we help to get them out of this incredibly dangerous situation.”
The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza has said more than 9,000 people, including 2,000 children, have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.
Tens of thousands of civilians fled Gaza City and Beit Hanoun in the north of the strip after Israel ordered people to move south to avoid being caught up in the conflict.
In the past 24 hours, the Israel Defense Forces have reached the sea, cutting off Hamas positions in Gaza City from the rest of the strip. But Hamas has built a warren of tunnels and may be able to avoid the encirclement.
Aid agencies say there is a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip with more than 2 million people short of food, water and fuel.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly spoke about the humanitarian situation to his opposite numbers in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, Ayman Safadi and Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday.
Mr. Cleverly also spoke to Israel’s minister of strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, reiterating the British government’s support for Israel as well as its commitment to finding a two-state solution.
RAF planes have delivered to Egypt 30 tonnes of vital equipment, such as forklift trucks, belt conveyors and lighting towers, which have been requested by the Egyptian Red Crescent.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said, “With an acute humanitarian crisis unfolding, today’s RAF airlift demonstrates yet again that the UK is committed to helping all suffering civilians.”
“Our armed forces have rapidly deployed to get our partners on the ground what they urgently need and stand ready to continue supporting the humanitarian effort,” added Mr. Shapps.
