Scottish First Minister’s Mother-in-law Appeals for Help in Gaza

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf. (dpa)
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf. (dpa)
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Scottish First Minister’s Mother-in-law Appeals for Help in Gaza

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf. (dpa)
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf. (dpa)

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf posted a video online Friday showing his mother-in-law in Gaza tearfully deploring Israel's order for residents in northern Gaza to evacuate their houses.

“This is Elizabeth El-Nakla. She is my mother-in-law... She, like the vast majority of people in Gaza, has nothing to do with Hamas. She has been told to leave Gaza but, like the rest of the population, is trapped with nowhere to go,” Yousaf posted on X platform.

"This will be my last video", al-Nakla said in a video that was published at the beginning of the Hamas-Israel war that started upon an attack by the Palestinian movement and other factions in Israel.

The retired nurse added "One million people -- no food, no water, and still, they are bombing them as they leave. Where are we going to put them? Where's humanity?"

The Israeli military called on Friday morning on all the residents of Gaza to evacuate their houses and head south in order to protect themselves.

The UN condemned this move and “Hamas” rejected it, on the seventh day of the war.

During an emotional interview with Sky News, Yousaf cried when discussing how "powerless and helpless" he felt about the situation.

He also accused the UK government of failing to help, saying he wrote to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and was "angry" and "disappointed" to receive no reply. "He was in Israel and could have picked up the phone for me," said Yousaf.

Since announcing that his wife’s family was besieged in Gaza, no communication was made with Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

In a separate interview with the BBC, the Scottish leader said that Israel was "going too far" with its response to the “Hamas” attack.

"Collective punishment cannot be justified," said Yousaf, adding that innocent people were "paying an extraordinary price for those atrocious attacks that they have nothing to do with".



Iran: Trump’s Victory Won’t Affect our Resolve to Retaliate against Israel

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
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Iran: Trump’s Victory Won’t Affect our Resolve to Retaliate against Israel

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei (Iranian Foreign Ministry)

Iran has downplayed the effect of US President Donald Trump’s re-election on its decision to retaliate “decisively” against Israel's airstrike on Iranian military bases last month.
Meanwhile, diplomats have signaled Iran's interest in talks with the new US administration, without external pressure.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected any change in Iran's stance after Trump’s return to office. At a weekly press conference on Monday, he said: “Iran will never ask for permission to defend its sovereignty, and any aggression will be met with a strong response.”
Asked about the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear sites, Baghaei replied, “We have taken necessary steps to protect our interests and nuclear program.”
He also referenced Resolution 533, which prohibits any threat or use of force against nuclear facilities under the oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“This document exists,” he said, adding that it stresses the UN Security Council’s responsibility to act against such threats. “A threat to nuclear facilities is a threat to international peace and security.”
On Oct. 26, Israeli warplanes attacked military sites in Iran after a large Iranian missile strike on Israel earlier that month.
Iran had launched 200 missiles at Israel on Oct. 1, in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, an Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Israeli airstrikes.
The two nations exchanged direct strikes in April, but did not engage in full-scale war.
As tensions between Iran and Israel grow, there are fears of a direct conflict, after years of covert actions and indirect strikes in the region.
Since last month’s airstrikes, Israel has warned Iran against further retaliation.
However, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has promised a “severe response,” and other Iranian officials have threatened revenge.
In the days leading up to the US presidential election on Nov. 5, signs of further escalation emerged.
On Nov. 3, the US announced the deployment of new military assets to the Middle East, scheduled to arrive “in the coming months” to defend Israel and warn Iran, according to a Pentagon statement.
Iranian Army Commander Abdolrahim Mousavi said on Thursday that Iran will decide the timing and method of its response, and when the time is right, “We will not hesitate. Our response will be overwhelming.”
However, Iran’s verbal threats have toned down since Trump's election victory.