In this photo taken June 17, 2009 Elias Elkafarna, 5, left, and his brother Qasem, 6, right sit next to their parents Kamal and Nojod in Gaza City. Kamal Elkafarna, a Palestinian instructor, has two American sons, born in the United States while he studied there on a U.S. government scholarship. But one of the passports has expired and the other will next month, adding an unexpected obstacle to the family's plans to travel to Russia, where Elkafarna hopes to pursue a Ph.D. Russia won't give the boys visas, Israel won't let the family travel to the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, and the United States offers no consular services in Gaza, leaving the boys unable to travel. Several other families with American citizen members remain stuck in similar situations. AP Photo logo AP Photo 5 months ago

In this photo taken June 17, 2009 Elias Elkafarna, 5, left, and his brother Qasem, 6, right sit next to their parents Kamal and Nojod in Gaza City. Kamal Elkafarna, a Palestinian instructor, has two American sons, born in the United States while he studied there on a U.S. government scholarship. But one of the passports has expired and the other will next month, adding an unexpected obstacle to the family's plans to travel to Russia, where Elkafarna hopes to pursue a Ph.D. Russia won't give the boys visas, Israel won't let the family travel to the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, and the United States offers no consular services in Gaza, leaving the boys unable to travel. Several other families with American citizen members remain stuck in similar situations.

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