HUMZA Yousaf’s family have successfully managed to escape Gaza today after they were approved to cross the border into Egypt at the Rafah border crossing.

The First Minister’s parents in-law Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla were trapped in the strip after travelling there before the war broke out earlier this month.

His family were said to have been reduced to drinking seawater after they ran out of clean water.

Their names were included on a list of foreign nationals published by the Gaza authorities who are allowed to leave the region, The Times reported Friday morning.

A statement from First Minister Humza Yousaf and Nadia El-Nakla said they were were "very pleased" that Maged and Elizabeth were able to leave Gaza, describing the last four weeks as a "living nightmare". 

They added that they were still "heartbroken" at the continued suffering of Gazans and restated a call for an immediate ceasefire. 

The statement read: "We are very pleased to confirm that Nadia’s parents were able to leave Gaza through the Rafah Crossing this morning.

"We are grateful to all of those who have assisted our parents over the last few weeks, including the FCDO crisis team.

"These last four weeks have been a living nightmare for our family, we are so thankful for all of the messages of comfort and prayers that we have received from across the world, and indeed from across the political spectrum in Scotland and the UK.

READ MORE: 'People need me': FM's brother-in-law shares video of children's plight in Gaza

"Although we feel a sense of deep personal relief, we are heartbroken at the continued suffering of the people of Gaza. We will continue to raise our voices to stop the killing and suffering of the innocent people of Gaza.

"We reiterate our calls for all sides to agree to an immediate ceasefire, the opening of a humanitarian corridor so that significant amounts of aid, including fuel, can flow through to a population that have suffered collective punishment for far too long, and for all hostages to be released.

"Families in Gaza and Israel are suffering after the loss of entirely innocent men, women and children. We pray for them all, and pray that the international community at last focuses on achieving a lasting peace in the region: one that recognises that the rights and lives of Palestinians and Israelis are equal."

It is understood that other members of the extended family remain in Gaza. We previously reported that Humza Yousaf’s brother-in-law had refused to leave his post as a doctor in Gaza because people “need me”.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Scotland’s First Minister shared a video of bloodied children being treated by medical personnel.

He wrote: “My brother-in-law, a doctor in Gaza, is spending his seventh consecutive day in hospital. Nadia spoke to him & said he should go home to rest, his response: ‘I can’t leave my people when they need me’.

“Health workers in Gaza are heroes.”

There are around 670,000 people currently seeking shelter in UNRWA shelters in Gaza.