A Palestinian worker from the Gaza Strip has won $2 million in Israel’s lottery, but has been unable to get to Tel Aviv to pick up his award because of the closure imposed on the territories.
The Hebrew daily Yediot Achronot reported that a man from Gaza City telephoned Israel’s lottery offices, saying that he had picked the winning numbers in the Jan. 24 lottery.
The lottery was drawn two days after Israel sealed the West Bank and Gaza Strip due to a suicide bombing near Netanya that killed 21 Israelis.
Lottery officials said they wondered why the prize had not been claimed. They eventually discovered that the winning ticket had been purchased at a stand in the southern town of Netivot, where the Palestinian man had worked.
When the man finally called, he said it was the first time he had bought a ticket. He was concerned that he would lose the money because of the closure.
“I don’t know what to do,” he said. “They don’t let me leave Gaza because of the closure. What will happen? Will I lose the money? And I had thought: Finally, I’ll stop working hard and have lots of money”.
Lottery officials assured the man that he had six months to pick up his winnings.
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