University students in the Gaza Strip who want to study abroad have been facing severe restrictions since Israel imposed a blockade on the territory two years ago. Israel took the measure after the militant Hamas movement won elections in Gaza and took over control of the territory.
Every year, one thousand or so Gazan students are accepted by foreign universities. But since the blockade was imposed, fewer than half of them have been able to go study abroad. One of them is Zohair Abu Shahan. This is his story.
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As a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip, I could not have been more proud to learn last June that I had earned a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States.
 As a child, I would wonder how televisions, computers and washing machines actually worked. I took this fascination to the Islamic University of Gaza, the only Gazan university offering a degree in electrical engineering.
There, I developed an ECG monitoring system that enables patients' hearts to be monitored at home through a personal computer and an Internet link. I won the university prize for distinguished projects for my innovation. I long dreamed of the other advances I might make after an education at the University of Connecticut, where I was scheduled to study this fall for a master's degree in electrical engineering.
Now, my dream has been stolen from me. I am devastated; my parents heartbroken. Though Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, it still controls our borders and determines who and what enters or exits. Since a 2006 election that brought a Hamas majority to the Palestinian Legislative Council, Israel has steadily diminished access into and out of Gaza. More than 200 Palestinians died in the past year because they could not leave to obtain medical care they desperately needed. Food, fuel and medicine are scarce. Hundreds of students like me, with scholarships to study abroad, are being arbitrarily denied the right to leave Gaza to fulfil our educational aspirations.
A few weeks ago when I went to the Erez Checkpoint between Gaza and Israel, I was told by the Israeli official that I could not leave unless I collaborated with the Israeli occupation. I refused. My conscience and my people's right to freedom and equal rights mean more to me than even the finest education.
An estimated 1.4 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, a narrow coastal strip along the Mediterranean Sea about 41km long and between six and 12 km wide. |
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The tunnel that leads to the Israeli side. Thousands of Gazans used to pass here every day to work in Israel.
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US officials came to my aid. They held special visa interviews along the Israeli-Gaza border for me and two other Fulbright scholars in a similar position. The US granted my visa. Once again I could imagine taking my seat in a lecture hall in America. I packed my bags, bought souvenirs for my future friends in America and bade farewell to my family.
Then came a phone call that changed everything. My American visa had been revoked based on secret evidence provided by Israel. I cannot see the evidence and so have no opportunity to contest it.
I'm not prepared to give up my plans. I worked very hard and earned another full scholarship to UK to study in one of the best universities in the world, Imperial College London. I got the British visa last September but my travel plans still need a miracle to take place.
The good news came on September 21 and Rafah border opened. So I grabbed my luggage brimming with hope that I would take my seat beside other international students in one of the Imperial College halls. I approached Rafah and stayed there for about 24 hours in no man's land. I spent a whole day and night there waiting for my bus to come. It never did. Only three busses were allowed and I was in the twelfth. There I recognised the fact that I am different from my international colleagues at Imperial who have already started their study while I am still stranded in the hell that is the Gaza Strip.
What troubles me most, however, is not my own personal plight, but the effect this experience has had on my talented younger brother.
After watching what I have endured as an innocent and politically unaffiliated student, he has concluded that he will no longer pursue the educational dream outside of Gaza he once held. His horizons are closing.
As an older brother from a family that places deep value on education, it pains me to see his own ambitions falter because of the injustice I am facing.
I wonder what hopelessness all children in Gaza suffer when they learn that Gaza's best students are confined by Israel to the cramped Gaza Strip? How are they to succeed when their parents discover local stores are empty of pencils, pens and notebooks because of the economic blockade of our small parcel of land?
There are hundreds of Palestinian students in Gaza hoping for a miracle so that we can pursue scholarships that may offer a once-in-a-lifetime escape from ignorance and poverty. We are determined not to be rendered a dependent people lacking advanced education.
And yet the silence of the world suggests that Israel will succeed in keeping us within the limiting confines of Gaza. Maybe the students of the world will think of me and my fellow Palestinian students because we the students of Gaza long to be with you.
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We received word from Zohair in mid-December that he had managed to get out of Gaza and is now in London. He will soon begin his university studies.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Radio Netherlands Worldwide.
All photographs by © RNW/Eric Beauchemin
Tags:
Fulbright,
Gaza blockade,
Israeli occupation,
Palestinians
jasmin,
15-12-2008
- India
My full sympathies with Zohair. However, what is glaringly clear is that he is supporting his regime, which is partly responsible for this situation. It takes two to make a row. And nowhere it is reported by RNW's Eric, that Zohair approached the Gazan authorities to get help for the trapped students. What does Zohair think about his regime's responsibilities towards the Gazans? The Gazans need to solve this, before blaming outsiders for their situation.
Hiram,
01-12-2008
- USA
Keider, you stated "maybe they will come up with a solution." Since, 1948, "they" the Islamic nations came up with a solution and the solution is to destroy Israel. They will not be happy until every Jew hiding behind every rock and tree is murdered. (The Jewish people of today are trying to give away something they have no right to give away and that is Israel. How can you have peace with people who openly say they are going to destroy the Jews and Israel from this planet?)
Roni Keidar,
30-11-2008
- Israel
I live on the border of the Gaza Strip, I am confronted daily with missiles and mortars bombing my village and the surrounding areas and on the othere side the Isaeli retaliation. Nonetheless, I feel for you and wish there could be a way that we could safely open our borders and let people like yourself continue their studies and allow for Gaz,petrol, medications and other necessities get to your people.
I am in regular contact to with my Palestinian neighbors trying to find a way to get to our leaders, here and there and make them realize that for the sake of us all we must stop this circle of violence and try to reach an understanding for us both peoples to live peaceful lives in mutual respesct and acceptance.
I will try to pass your above article to "The Peres Institute for Peace". Maybe they wll come up with a solution.
All the best and don't give up hope.
Thomas,
29-11-2008
- USA
Anyone care to explain as to why Gazans cannot leave via Egypt? Why bashing the Israelis with whom they are at war and simply ignore Egypt, their own co-religious brethrens? Smuggling goats into Gaza from Egypt is OK but leaving trough Egypt is not. This is only part of the psycho warfare and nothing to do with the reality on the ground.
Hiram,
29-11-2008
- USA
Israel doesn't keep you and the Palestinians confined. ou, the Palestinians, have the keys to open the doors but you refuse to stop firing missiles into Israel. You keep yourself confined! You have the keys to freedom but you want to destroy Israel. So you keep firing Kassam missiles into Israel and kill innocent citizens. What do you expect of Israel? As coming to the US, please study elsewhere. Did you know that in the US, you have a responsibility to report criminal activity? If you fail to do your civic duty and do not report any criminal activity, you have broken the law. If I, as American, know a crime, is going to take place by terrorists in another country and fail to report it, I am supporting the crime. With freedom comes responsibilities. When you failed to or refuse to report terrorism, you in essence are supporting it. What if I had know of the terrorists attacks in London, Madrid, and Mumbai and failed to report my information? Under American law, I would be sitting in prison. Stop blaming Israel and start balming the nation of Jordan....the home of the Palestinians. P.S. Sure are a lot articles on behalf of the Palestianians. Is there an agenda to show the Evil Empire of Israel! Before you know it, the RNW will be supporting the terrorists who attacked Mumbai. WhyBecause the Jews and their Zionist plots controlled India and its government. Can't you see it is just one big plot by Israel to keep the Palestinians confined and the rest of world under it's control. (RNW, you posted your disclaimer but your disclaimer means nothing. Why? Because your agency posts articles that are one sided. By the way the articles are written, it not difficult to see your reporter(s) who write or post these one-sided articles are biased.
Mike,
28-11-2008
- Israel
As an Israeli who has achieved higher education abroad I am sympathetic to your situation, however I must point out that you did indeed refuse to provide information about Hamas, which in effect is support of Hamas, which is illegal in the EU and the US. You will never achieve your dreams until you acknowledge that the murderous policies of Hamas are far more atrocious than the restricted movement you speak of. I hope your people wake up and see the reality of world soon. Never can you attack as Hamas does yet claim to be immune from attacks yourself.
