The wife of Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf, whose relatives are trapped in Gaza, has delivered a powerful address to the party’s annual conference.
Nadia El-Nakla told the SNP’s conference in Aberdeen that her family members are saying goodbye to each other “like it’s the last time” as civilians in Gaza are ordered to evacuate the north.
“Families like mine are having to move and they are having to say goodbye to each other as if it’s the last time,” she said.
“My dad yesterday – when we hoped he would leave – said goodbye to my grandmother for what we thought was the last time. Every person in Gaza is waiting to die.”
Ms El-Nakla’s parents are currently trapped in Gaza after travelling there from Scotland recently to visit family.
Israeli forces have positioned themselves along Gaza’s border, besieging the territory, ahead of what Israel says will be a broad campaign to dismantle the Hamas militant group. Meanwhile, the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza at Rafah has been closed.
Ms El-Nakla, who is an SNP councillor, told the conference an “unimaginable horror” was unfolding, adding that “every person in Gaza is waiting to die”.
Her address came on the opening day of the annual conference where an emergency motion was passed unanimously by delegates calling on the UK government to back United Nations demands for a humanitarian corridor to be set up.
“No food, no water, no electricity. We are seeing an attack on humanity and my heart feels like it is starting to turn to stone,” she said.
“Gaza is being obliterated like never before.”
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‘Give the children of Gaza a chance of life’
Following the deadly Hamas attacks last Saturday, which killed more than 1,300 Israelis, Israel has told 1.1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza to move to the south ahead of an anticipated offensive by air, land and sea.
But the UN warned the forced evacuation will have devastating humanitarian consequences, with hospital patients and others unable to leave.
Ms El-Nakla used her speech to call on UK and world leaders to “give the children of Gaza a chance of life”.
“Instead of sending spy planes, the UK should be sending supplies,” she told the conference.
“We are not watching a natural disaster, this can be stopped.
“This can only happen when the world leaders use diplomacy, instead of weaponising, and strive for peace over war.”
Humza Yousaf embraced his wife after she spoke at the conference and wiped away tears.
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Calls for humanitarian corridor
The SNP’s leader in Westminster, Stephen Flynn, had been due to open the party’s conference but instead it opened with the emergency motion on the situation in the Middle East.
The motion called for the condemnation of the “terrorist attacks” of Hamas and the release of all hostages.
Read more on Sky News:
Humza Yousaf feels ‘powerless’ to protect family in Gaza
Humza Yousaf makes tearful plea over family in Gaza
It also says international law must be respected and that “innocent people must not pay the price for the actions of Hamas”.
It called for a humanitarian corridor, protected by a ceasefire, to be agreed to allow people to leave and civilian supplies, including food, fuel, water and medical supplies, to reach those who cannot leave.
Humza Yousaf is due to address the SNP conference on Tuesday.
In an interview with Sky’s Beth Rigby earlier this week, a tearful Mr Yousaf said he felt “powerless” to protect his family.
