More Palestinians Flee Homelands

A Palestinian flag waves as people rally in support of the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority government in front of the Legislative Council in Gaza City, Friday Dec. 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) (Khalil Hamra - AP)

"People don't have money and we are on the verge of a civil war, which will be followed by a massive Israeli incursion," he said of Gaza's prospects.

Many countries make it difficult for the stateless Palestinians to obtain even tourist visas, because they often overstay them and obtain citizenship by marrying nationals of their host countries.

Two popular destinations for Gazans are Canada, which still offers legal immigration, and Cuba, which imposes few restrictions on Palestinian travelers.

Those with tourist visas to Cuba often don't plan to go there. Instead, they get off in transit at a European airport, rip up their Palestinian travel document and seek asylum.

Travel agencies in Gaza arrange for fictitious invitations, hotel bookings and Cuban visas for their clients, a Palestinian security official said. The cost of the service has gone up from $200 to $1,500 because of the high demand and increasing risk, the official said.

Palestinian, Egyptian and European officials have begun to tighten restrictions in an attempt to stem the flow. Travel agent Mohammed Mouin said 65 of his clients with Cuban visas were sent back from Egypt, but that many more are trying. "Traveling to Cuba has become a fad," he said.

Businesses are also leaving.

More than 20, including clothing and plastic factories, have moved to Egypt or Jordan in the past six months _ as many as in the previous six years _ taking 12 percent of Gaza's scarce jobs with them, according to Gaza's Federation of Industries.

In September alone, 35 factory owners applied to relocate their machinery abroad, said Mohammed al-Kidwa, governor of Gaza City. Some who left came back because of the difficulties of doing business abroad.

Haidar al-Nimer, 45, who sold spare parts for cars with four of his brothers, moved to Tunisia in September and invested $100,000 in a new business there.

On a recent trip back to Gaza, al-Nimer said he left because of growing lawlessness in Gaza. "If you have a car accident, someone can come down and pull a gun at you," he said.

Mohammed Fares wants to join his two children studying in Egypt, and needs to sell his Gaza City gym and beauty parlor.

He's 52 and says: "I don't have any more time to waste."