'Under Fire': Humza Yousaf writing book on dealing with his family being trapped in Gaza
Former first minister says book will tell story of the ‘four most difficult weeks of my life’
Former first minister Humza Yousaf is writing a book about his family’s experience of dealing with the war in Gaza while he was leading the country.
‘Under Fire’ will be published in October this year and Mr Yousaf said it will tell the story of the “four most difficult weeks of my life” after his in-laws became trapped in Gaza following retaliatory attacks from Israel on the back of the Hamas October 7 bombings.
His wife, Councillor Nadia El-Nakla, is half-Palestinian and at the time her parents were visiting family members in Gaza.
In a video posted to X, Mr Yousaf said: “I’m doing something I never thought I would - writing a book.
“I’m excited, nervous, but most importantly grateful for the opportunity.
“‘Under Fire’ will tell the story of the four most difficult weeks of my life, of my family’s lives - the four weeks my in-laws were trapped in Gaza ina genocide while I was leader of my country.
“It will be an honest, raw account of deeply personal moments - the times we thought we had lost Nadia’s parents, how I tried to support my wife and children while desperately trying to help my in-laws escape Gaza, all while trying to run a country and heal divisions within Scotland’s communities.”
He added: “The book is not just about those four weeks. It’s about what leadership really looks like when it’s personal, when the crisis you’re managing isn’t abstract but it’s actually your family.
“The book will also touch upon themes of identity, race and the rise of far-right extremism as well as the global ramifications of the collapse of rules-based order.
“But most importantly, it will continue to shine a light on the atrocities that we’re still witnessing in Gaza.”
Mr Yousaf is due to step down as the MSP for Glasgow Pollok at the upcoming Holyrood in May, after resigning as First Minister following the collapse of the Bute House Agreement in 2024.
His book will come just a year after his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon published her memoir ‘Frankly’. She is also due to step down as an MSP at the upcoming election.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.