Feature: To get together, Palestinian lovers struggle with Israeli constrains

Rashed Faddah lives in West Bank and Dalia Shurrab lives in the Gaza Strip. Though it is only two-hour drive between the two lovers, yet for the past four years, they can only celebrate the Valetine's Day via Internet chats.

Despite the fact that the West Bank and the Gaza area are both the Palestinian territories, they are geographically separated.

Under Israeli control, Palestinians can only cross between the two areas with special permits, according to the Oslo agreement. Palestinians accused Israel of posing even more restrictions on the flow of goods and people as Hamas took control of the coastal enclave in 2007.

However, power shortage in Gaza has made their last resort of communication increasingly vulnerable, Rashed told Xinhua. "I'm looking to see if there is anybody going to Gaza to send her chocolate," he said.

Rashed, aged 35, and Dalia, aged 32, fell in love in 2011 in Jordan where they attended a workshop together. Rashed said he liked her ambitious and lively personality while Dalia said he made her feel "special."

Palestinian officials once advised the couple to sign a legal marriage contract to get the crossing permit, said Rashed. So in 2012, the groom and his father traveled to Jordan and entered Gaza through the Egyptian borders.

In Gaza, they had a legal wedding ceremony. However, Israel has continuously denied granting Dalia a permit to come to the West Bank, despite her numerous attempts.

"As many of his friends got married and have families, he still waits for his loved woman to come and complete his joy," Rashed's mother Sana told Xinhua.

"I even avoid bringing the topic up because I know it hurts him, and I can't advise him to leave her because he really loves her," she added.

"Thinking that his bride will come soon, he took a bank loan to furnish a house he bought," Sameer, Rashed's father told Xinhua. As most of the things he bought remain boxed, Rashed said he feels sad each time he comes to the house as he does not know when or if Dalia will ever make it.

"Imagine that my house was furnished without me being there," Dalia said, adding that she saw it on pictures and it looks beautiful.

Dalia said she once tried using the wedding certificate as a way to get a family reunification but was rejected by Israel. She also tried to accompany her mother to the West Bank for a surgery, but was not allowed to.

"I also contacted many local and international human rights organizations but to no avail. They said they can't help me unless I leave the Gaza Strip and try to enter the West Bank from a foreign country," she said.

Director of the Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights Issam Al- Arouri told Xinhua that Israel rejects many permit applications even if there are human reasons such as medical treatment and reunification. "This is against the international human rights law by saying that Israel security reason as a justification for its measures," he said.

Long after their struggle to be together, the couple started a campaign on Facebook asking for the help from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel has rarely allowed Gazans to enter the West Bank, and Dalia hopes to be one of them.

Hundreds of people have followed their Facebook page to show support. However, the Palestinian Civil Administration said the Palestinian National Authority has limited influence. "The difficulty of getting permits from Israel has caused many cases of divorce," Marouf Zahran, Palestinian deputy minister of civil affairs said.

Dalia has a bachelor degree in Physics, business and education. She now works in digital marketing. During the mini war with Israel last June, Dalia was offered a job in Qatar but she couldn't leave Gaza because the crossing with Egypt was closed.

While Rashed's trip to Gaza might be easier, Dalia rejected it as an option. Living within a siege, it might be nearly impossible for the couple to find jobs.

The couple said they would always comfort eath other whenever they feel hopeless. "I will give up hope when I have no options left, after I tried everything and fail. So long as there are chances such as living in Europe, U.S., Canada or the Gulf, I will not surrender," Dalia told Xinhua.

"We even picked out the names of our children. We would name the first boy Samir, the same name as my father. And the baby girl would be called Sarah," Rashed said.

The crossing linking between Gaza and Egypt is yet fully working as the priority is given to the sick and those who have residencies abroad. Dalia has a temporary visa to Jordan. She said they might consider immigrating to other countries if she was ever able to leave Gaza.

"It's been difficult but I still believe that love breaks all barriers and boundaries, and it's that driving force that keep us living on." Endit