The Israeli Supreme Court turns down a petition put forward by human rights organizations on behalf of a UK student trapped in Gaza . Khaled Mudallal, 22, a British-educated business and management student has not been able to leave Gaza to the UK to do his final year at Bradford University and risks losing his third year if he does not return to Bradford next week.
The Supreme Court said that the matter is in the hands of the army and have consistently refused to interfere. Human rights organizations have argued that new restrictions which have so far prevented several hundred Palestinian students from returning from Gaza to courses abroad are in violation of international law.
A rally was organized at Bradford University to coincide court hearing by “Trapped in Gaza †campaign which was setup to try and put pressure on Israeli Government to lift the travel restrictions on Khaled as well as all o the r Palestinians. The organizers were hoping that the rally would conclude the campaign on a positive note, unfortunately the Israeli supreme court choose to ignore the Khaled’s case, despite the campaign gaining a lot of support, ranging from national newspapers, National union of students, UCU, several MPs and numerous civil society groups.
Khaled’s case is considered a test case of new restrictions on movements in and out of Gaza since Israel declared it as “hostile entity” last week. A student who joined the campaign commented that “The latest restriction on freedom of movement within Gaza is yet ano the r blow to all those who support basic human rights, within Palestine and across the world. The Israeli Supreme Court, yet again, has legitimised the idea that being a Palestinian in Palestine ranks you as a lower class citizen.â€
Allow Khaled Mudallal and all other Palestinians to travel.
A Palestinian student urgently trying to get back to Bradford University to start his third year of study, has found him self unable to do so after Israel identified Gaza as “hostile territory” this week, effectively closing it off to the outside world and in the process creating the world’s largest open air prison. Khaled Mudallal, 22, a British-educated business and management student who risks losing his third year if he does not return to Bradford next week, has become its latest inmate. The Israeli human rights organisation Gisha, is presenting a petition to the Israeli Supreme Court arguing that new restrictions which have so far prevented several hundred Palestinian students from Gaza to return to courses abroad is a violation of international law. Khaled must be allowed to return to the UK immediately to continue his studies, and all other Palestinian students studying abroad should be allowed to return to their respective universities. Any delay in Khaled’s and the other Palestinian students return is damaging to their future prospects and thus unacceptable.
Check out this article in The Independent newspaper about the issue
Also check out this facebook group
How to help:
1. Sign the on-line petition calling on the British Government to pressure the Israeli.
2. Pass a motion through your student union. Click here for a model motion.
3. Send demanding that the british goverments puts pressure on the Israeli goverment to allow freedom of movement for palestinians, to:
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
Here is a model letter you can use:
I’m writing to you to express my anger about the case of Khaled Mudallal A Palestinian student urgently trying to get back to Bradford University to start his third year of study who found has found him self unable to do so after Israel identified Gaza as “hostile territory”, effectively closing it off to the outside world and in the process creating the world’s largest open air prison.
Khaled Mudallal, 22, a British-educated business and management student would risk losing his third year if he does not return to Bradford next week.
We demand that the British government puts maximum pressure on the Israeli government to allow the freedom of movement for Palestinians.
4. Contact the Palestinian solidarity group at your University to cooradante you work.