No U.S. Trip for Students From Gaza, Hamas Says

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GAZA — The Islamist group that governs Gaza barred a group of students this week from traveling to the United States for a year of study, officials of the group, Hamas, said.

The seven high school students were selected for the Youth Study and Exchange program sponsored by Amideast, an American nonprofit group engaged in international education, training and development activities in the Middle East and North Africa.

The students had won scholarships to attend school in the United States, where they were to stay with host families.

“A 15-year-old girl cannot spend a year in America without a supervisor,” said Mohammed Awad, the Hamas foreign minister, explaining the decision. “We are worried about our sons and daughters.”

full: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/world/middleeast/20gaza.html