Israel prevents hairstylists and students traveling out of Gaza
In a letter to Colonel Khatib Mansour, head of the DCO, Gisha stated that since three of the applicants were independent businesswomen: “approving their application to participate in the fair is particularly important. Everywhere in the world, including the Gaza Strip, fewer opportunities are available to women. Therefore, women must be supported to aspire for economic independence so that they can contribute to the development of their societies.”
Iqbal Kishta, the owner of a beauty salon in Gaza, told Haaretz (Hebrew) that she and colleagues feel discriminated against compared to businessmen. Kishta added that it was important for her and her colleagues to participate in the fair in order to send a message that “Gaza residents aren’t cut off from Palestinian society or from an interest in beauty”.
In addition, the DCO prevented seven female students from Gaza to travel to Al-Quds University in Abu Dis. The students were invited to participate in an international technology competition organized by Microsoft. As with the hairstylists, the DCO denied permission for the students to travel on the basis that they are not an exceptional humanitarian case.