West Bank children 'could come home'

The family run a busy bakery in Nablus

The Palestinian father of four Welsh children caught up in the violence of the West Bank has said he may allow them to return to Britain for their safety and their education.

The four Ihbasheh children, who until two years ago lived in the seaside resort of Barry in south Wales, have been trapped under curfew in the West Bank city of Nablus during recent Israeli incursions.

Daughter Fatima Ihbasheh: 'Happy' in Nablus

The youngsters, aged from 10 to 16, are also at the centre of a custody battle between their Welsh mother Eileen Sutton and their father - Palestinian businessman Kamal Ihbashek.

Retained by their father in the Middle East after an access visit two years ago, the brothers and sisters were holed up in the family's apartment in the war-torn city for 22 days.

Their home was even used as a look-out point from which Israeli gunmen fired into the old city.

Now, however, Mr Ihbasheh who runs a busy bakery, said he may be prepared to return the youngsters to Wales.

"It is not kidnap," said Mr Ihbasheh, referring to the forced holding of his four children.

"When someone loves his children I do not call it kidnap."

"But for the safety of their children, I see their future may be in Britain," he admitted.

There was a curfew in Nablus for 22 days

The plight of the children has been highlighted by the Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith at Westminster.

In an emotional speech in the Commons last month, Mr Smith pleaded with the UK Government to help pull them out of the occupied territory.

"For God's sake and, in the name of humanity, get them out of there - and get them out now."

Mr Smith has also called on UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to intervene to have the children taken to the safety of the British consulate.

Labour MEP Glenys Kinnock is also involved in the custody battle: "It is a very difficult situation and one that is exacerbated by the fact that the occupied territories are not part of the Hague convention."

During the Israeli army occupation last month 71 Palestinians were recorded killed and the offensive threatened a massive humanitarian crisis.

Kamal Ihbasheh: Children's safety

Images of morgues overflowing with corpses and bodies piled high on trucks were flashed across the world's media.

Despite the horrors of war, 16-year-old Fatima Ihbasheh said she was still enjoying life in Nablus.

"I have been happy," said Fatima.

"But it is not Britain. It is still Nablus. It is not my home town," said the youngster, as she stood on a hill overlooking the mosque of the West Bank city.