October 10, 2007	Wednesday	Ramazan 27, 1428

GAZA: Palestinian student Khaled al-Mudallal arrived home to Gaza on a mission: marry his fiancee Duaa then spirit her back to Britain where he would complete his university degree.

Instead, they both ended up stuck in the impoverished Hamas-run coastal enclave because of an Israeli blockade that stops anyone without a permit from leaving.

The 22-year-old student returned to Gaza half way through his 3-year business management course at Bradford University in northern England to get married and escort his new wife home.

But a week after he arrived, fighting between Islamist group Hamas and rival faction Fatah erupted. Hamas seized control of the coastal territory and Israel shut the one border crossing that remained open for ordinary people.

“Being held in Gaza affects my whole life,” Mudallal told Reuters. “I need to return to the life I have built.”

Israel has allowed a few Palestinian students to leave Gaza in time for the start of a new academic year at universities in Europe and the Middle East.

But Palestinian officials say permits are issued sporadically and after long delays, meaning some 6,000 Gazans — including hundreds of students — have been forced to put their studies on hold.

“Gaza trap? I would say Gaza grave,” said 18-year-old Talal Mohammad, a Gaza student who had been hoping to study in Cairo.

“We built hopes like mountains but they have all collapsed.”

NUMBER 4,834

Mudallal took his case to Israeli human rights group Gisha, which says it represents hundreds of Palestinians who want to leave Gaza. Gisha asked the Israeli High Court of Justice to fast-track Mudallal’s case but was turned down.

Sari Bashi, director of Gisha, said Mudallal was number 4,834 on a waiting list of more than 6,000.

“With this rate, if you calculate it, it will take Khaled something like 20 months to leave,” Bashi said.—Reuters