A Bradford University student who had been trapped in Gaza for six months flew into the United Kingdom yesterday and told of his delight to be back.

Khaled al-Mudallal, 22, of Great Horton, Bradford, had returned to his native Gaza to marry but found himself caught up in an ongoing siege by the Israeli army.

Passage in and out of the region is severely restricted and supplies of food, power and aid have been cut off.

Mr al-Mudallal, a business studies student about to begin the third year of his course, was prevented from leaving Gaza when Israel closed the borders to the area.

A UK-wide campaign was started by the National Union of Students, supported by the University of Bradford. An on-line petition demanding Mr al-Mudallal and hundreds of other students be allowed to return to their studies was signed by around 1,000 people.

The Israeli justification for the siege and privations forced on the people of Gaza is support for the elected Hamas government.

After months of torment and uncertainty Mr al-Mudallal was finally back on UK soil yesterday afternoon having flown into Heathrow Airport, London. Speaking from the airport Mr al-Mudallal, accompanied by his wife Duaa, said: "I am delighted to be back in the UK. I will be so happy to be back in Bradford and at University with my colleagues and friends.

"I would like to thank everyone who has supported me during the six months I was trapped in Gaza. It has been a big experience for me.

"I would like to say that we have won this round. I am back but the issue of the people of Gaza and the Palestinian people as a whole still remains. I have had to leave many people, many students trapped in Gaza and the situation is getting worse there."

A spokesman for the University of Bradford Student Union, which spearheaded the campaign for Mr al-Mudallal's return, said: "We are delighted that Khaled has been allowed to return to continue his studies.

"Everyone worked so hard to campaign for him and the other students trapped in Gaza. We will be here to support him on his return and help him settle in again."

In all about 700 people were allowed to leave the Gaza territories, including Mr and Mrs al-Mudallal.

It is unsure whether the move was a concession to the current US-brokered peace talks between Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas taking place in Annapolis, Maryland this week.

In its turn the Palestinian Authority led by Mr Abbas announced that it had shut down almost 100 charities with alleged links to the armed group Hamas in the West Bank.

e-mail: paddy.mcguffin@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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