'This would be my last video,' says Scottish leader's mother-in-law from Gaza

'Where’s humanity, where’s people’s hearts. May god help us, goodbye,' says Elizabeth El-Nakla in video message

LONDON:

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf on Friday shared a poignant video from his mother-in-law, Elizabeth El-Nakla, who was visiting Gaza along with her husband when the conflict began between Hamas and Israel.

“This would be my last video. Everybody in Gaza is moving towards where we are. One million people, no food, no water and still (the Israeli forces are) bombing them as they leave,” El-Nakla said while crying.

“Where are we going to put them? But my thought is, all these people in the hospital cannot be evacuated.

“One million people. No food, no water. And still they are bombing them as they leave.”

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf shared a video from his mother-in-law Elizabeth El-Nakla, who is a retired Scottish nurse living in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/QzpDL0suav

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) October 13, 2023

“Where’s humanity, where’s people’s hearts in the world to let this happen in this date and age. May god help us, goodbye,” said Elizabeth El-Nakla in the video message.

In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

Read More: Blinken to Israel on Middle East mission to prevent a wider war

The conflict began last Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

Read More: Who is Mohammed Deif, the Hamas commander behind the attack on Israel?

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.