Heartbreaking plight of Inverness doctor's family in Gaza to be raised in UK Parliament
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The plight of a Inverness hospital consultant's family trapped in grim living conditions in Gaza is set to be raised in the UK Parliament tomorrow.
The Inverness Courier last revealed last week the despair of Salim Ghayyda who is in daily fear for the lives of his elderly parents, brothers and sisters along with his extended family who are caught up in the intensifying Israel-Hamas war.
Inverness MP Drew Hendry, who has described the situation as "utterly heartbreaking", has written to the Foreign Office and is raising the issue again.
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More than 30 members of Dr Ghayyda's family, including children, are living in self-built tents or a cramped flat near Rafah after being uprooted several times.
The paediatric consultant at Raigmore Hospital is desperately trying to get them to safety and has met Mr Hendry to discuss the situation.
"The situation Salim and his family find themselves in is utterly heartbreaking," Mr Hendry said.
"I am certain they will be taking some comfort from the kindness and outpouring of support they have from our community.
"Upon learning of the family's situation last year, I wrote to the Foreign Office, highlighting the family's precarious situation and urging help.
"The response I received from the Minister was wholly unhelpful, offering no solutions.
"I plan to raise the matter with the Minister again this week in Parliament and urge him, once again, to do the right thing.
"I will continue to do all I can to give voice to Salim and his family and the other families facing this impossible and heartbreaking dilemma and help in any way I can."
Mr Hendry has also raised an Early Day Motion condemning the ongoing conflict in Gaza along with "the futile and tragic loss of life and the impact on all Palestinians".
It notes with specific concern the situation of Dr Ghayyda’s immediate family members who have been forced to abandon their homes in Gaza City and move to a tent city in Rafah with limited access to basic necessities including food, water and sanitation.
It urges the UK Government to take immediate action and create safe, viable routes for the family of British Palestinians to evacuate and seek safety in the UK.
Dr Ghayyda, who was born and grew up in Gaza, is a British Palestinian and has lived and worked in the UK for 21 years.
As well as highlighting the inhumane living conditions for his family and others like them, he has spoken of his heartache at seeing TV and media images of hospitals in Gaza where he once treated patients as a young doctor being bombarded.
