AN Oxford Brookes University graduate who lost his family in an attack in the Gaza strip is hoping to return to Oxford this spring.

Seven members of Hassan Alhallaq’s family including his heavily pregnant wife Samar, 29, and sons Qinan, six, and Saji , four, were killed when Israeli forces bombed his sister’s flat on July 20.

He suffered a fractured right thigh and only recently returned to Gaza from a rehabilitation hospital in the West Bank.

After his return to Gaza, he said he hoped to visit Oxford for a dedication of olive trees that were planted by Oxford Brookes at its Headington campus in November in memory of Samar and their children.

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In a statement released through his friend Sir Iain Chalmers, who lives in Jericho, Mr Alhallaq spoke about his memories of his time in Oxford.

He said: “In summer 2013 I was lucky to bring my family to Oxford to spend the summer vacation with me, it was the best vacation we’d ever had.

“They enjoyed life in the UK, they were given the chance to see how the whole world is living the normal life with all the meaning of the word.

“It never occurred to me, even in my worst nightmares, that this would then be the last vacation for me with them.”

Sir Ian said: “Hassan is hoping to return to Oxford in the spring for a dedication of the olive trees that Oxford Brookes has planted in memory of his wife and their two sons.”

Mr Alhallaq had previously said he would consider returning to Oxford to study for a PhD and in August the Oxford Mail backed an appeal to raise the money to allow him to return.

He was Gaza Scholar at Brookes between September 2013 and September 2014.

Oxford Mail:

The funeral of the members of the family

The Gaza scholarship allows one student from the area to study for a Masters degree at Brookes each academic year. The scholarship pays for their fees, accomodation and most living expenses.

Current Gaza Scholar Shayma Rahidi, 26, said she last spoke to Mr Alhallaq in November.

She said: “He has recovered physically from his injuries because I think he is really strong and has managed to recover.

“I asked him about how he is doing and it is hard to predict what he will experience.

“He feels it is hard to complain, he just lost his whole life.

“I think he would like to come back permanently, but he needs to think about what is going on his life first of course.”

To donate to help bring Mr Alhallaq home, send a cheque to Oxford Brookes University, with Hassan written on the reverse, to: DARO, Oxford Brookes University, OX3 0BP.

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