Humza Yousaf’s wife ‘not comforted’ as Foreign Office work to get parents out of Gaza
The wife of Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf has told Sky News the Foreign Office is working hard to negotiate her parents’ escape from Gaza but she is “not comforted” by the chance of success.
The US has been trying to broker a deal to reopen Egypt’s Rafah Crossing with Gaza to allow foreigners to leave and humanitarian aid to be taken in.
The border was closed because of airstrikes early in the war. Foreign Secretary James Cleverley said it is proving “incredibly difficult” to allow people through.
Nadia El Nakla said she had barely slept after receiving a panicked 1am call from her parents who are visiting a sick relative in the war-torn area.
Ms El Nakla told Sky News she and her husband, the SNP leader, had fallen asleep moments before they were alerted about a possible imminent strike on the Gaza property where her parents are staying. It turned out to be a false alarm.
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.
Ms El Nakla, who is an SNP councillor, told Sky News her relatives were in ongoing talks with the Foreign Office.
She said: “The negotiations are happening. They said to me that, look, it’s personal for them. They have stuff there and it’s they desperately want people out.
“But the negotiations are ongoing. And as much as I truly believe that it’s not a comfort to myself, I just want them out there as soon as possible.”
Read more on Sky News:
Scotland’s FM makes tearful plea over family in Gaza
Live updates on Israel-Hamas war
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Humza Yousaf’s mother-in-law ‘trapped’ in Gaza
‘That feeling of helplessness is really poignant’
Mr Yousaf’s wife talked about the toll the constant panic is having on them.
She said: “My mum called at like 1am. The minute I heard Humza say ‘it’s your mum’ I just immediately felt sick and she was just crying and she said: ‘We’ve left the house, we don’t know where we’re going.’
“What was really difficult was they’re very much asking me what they should do and I don’t know what to do to keep them safe. So that feeling of helplessness is really poignant right now.”
Earlier on Sunday the SNP conference passed an emergency motion, which calls on the UK government to back United Nations demands for a humanitarian corridor to be set up, allowing people to leave and for aid to get into the territory to “mitigate the human tragedy unfolding in Gaza”.
The statement said the SNP “unequivocally condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas, calls for the unconditional release of all the hostages and recognises the right of Israel, in commons with all nations, to protect itself from terror”.
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In full: Humza Yousaf condemns Israel
Family members ‘having to say goodbye as if it’s the last time’
Ms 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 told the conference an “unimaginable horror” was unfolding, adding that “every person in Gaza is waiting to die”.
She added: “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.
“Gaza is being obliterated like never before.”
Ms El Nakla used her speech to call on the 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.
She added: “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.”
Mr Yousaf embraced his wife after she spoke to the conference and then wiped away tears.
In an interview with Sky’s Beth Rigby earlier this week, a tearful Mr Yousaf said he felt “powerless” to protect his family.
UK
MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace steps down as Kirsty Wark among 13 who claim he made inappropriate sexual jokes
MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has stepped down over allegations he made a series of inappropriate sexual comments on a range of programmes over 17 years.
Broadcaster Kirsty Wark is among 13 people who have made claims, with Wallace being investigated by MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK.
In an interview with the BBC, the Newsnight presenter, who was a celebrity contestant on MasterChef in 2011, claimed Wallace used “sexualised language”.
“There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn’t as if it was anyone engaged with this,” Wark said.
“It was completely one-way traffic. I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really didn’t expect to happen.”
Sky News has contacted Wallace’s representative for comment.
Kirsty Wark. File pic: PA
‘Fully cooperating’
Banijay UK said the complaints were made to the BBC this week by “individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with Gregg Wallace on one of our shows”.
The company said the 60-year-old, who has been a co-presenter and judge of the popular cooking show since 2005, was “committed to fully cooperating throughout the process”.
“Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate,” the company said.
“While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.
“Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.
“Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.”
A BBC spokesman said: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.
“We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.
“Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.”
Previous investigation
Last month, Wallace responded to reports that a previous BBC review had found he could continue working at the corporation following reports of an alleged incident in 2018 when he appeared on Impossible Celebrities.
Wallace said those claims had been investigated “promptly” at the time and said he had not said “anything sexual” while appearing on the game show more than half a decade ago.
In an Instagram post following an article in The Sun newspaper, he wrote: “The story that’s hitting the newspapers was investigated promptly when it happened six years ago by the BBC.
“And the outcome of that was that I hadn’t said anything sexual. I’ll need to repeat this again. I didn’t say anything sexual.”
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Alongside MasterChef, Wallace presented Inside The Factory for BBC Two from 2015.
Wallace and Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2014. Pic: PA
Wallace has featured on various BBC shows over the years, including Saturday Kitchen, Eat Well For Less, Supermarket Secrets, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, as well as being a Strictly Come Dancing contestant in 2014.
He was made an MBE for services to food and charity last year.
Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace will be transmitted as planned, the PA news agency understands.
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