Relatives of Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s First Minister, have escaped Gaza after being trapped since the war broke out. 

Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, from Dundee, were among 92 British citizens approved to travel through the Rafah crossing and into Egypt on Friday.

Describing the last four weeks as “a living nightmare for our family”, the First Minister and his wife, Nadia El-Nakla, expressed thanks to those who had helped, including officials at the Foreign Office 

“We are very pleased to confirm that Nadia’s parents were able to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing this morning,” he said.

“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.”

He added: “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.”

Mr Yousaf’s parents-in-law travelled to Gaza to visit family before the conflict erupted and have described trying to survive without clean water and “dwindling supplies”.

It is understood they arrived at the crossing early on Friday after the Palestinian Border Authority published a list overnight naming the foreigners allowed to cross.

It stated that those approved to leave had to be “present at 7am in the outdoor halls of the crossing to facilitate their travel”.

The Rafah crossing is the only exit out of Gaza not controlled by Israel.

It was closed after Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct 7 and Egypt has said it will not accept an influx of Palestinian refugees in case Israel stops them returning after the war.

The crossing has opened briefly for humanitarian aid to enter the besieged Palestinian territory, and in recent days some injured Gazans and foreign nationals have been allowed to leave as fighting in the region intensifies.

Palestinians with foreign passports and 42 others were allowed to leave Gaza, according to the Palestinian Border Authority.

A new list of those approved to use the crossing contained the names of more than 500 people, including Italians, Germans, two Irish dependants, one Moroccan, 31 Palestinians and one Palestinian dependant.

The Scottish government has given £750,000 to assist relief efforts and help displaced people in Gaza access food, water, shelter and medical supplies.

More than 8,800 people are now estimated to have died following strikes carried out in retaliation for the Hamas attacks in Israel.