. '' Watch how the students learned about the scholarship loss '' U.S. officials had said the scholarships were rescinded because Israel had denied them exit visas . But McCormack said Monday that U.S. authorities did not take up the matter with Israel until after the matter became public . Israel , which has been criticized for banning hundreds of students from leaving Gaza to study abroad , said it considers each application individually . Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev indicated Sunday that his country would be willing to grant the students visas . `` This can happen , '' Regev said . `` No one has to pressure Israel on this issue . We have an interest . A real interest . '' Citing security concerns , Israel imposed an embargo on the movement of people and goods from Gaza after Islamic militant group Hamas took over the territory last year . Palestinians can leave Gaza only with Israeli permission . Hamas has refused to recognize Israel 's right to exist , and Israel , the United States and the European Union have designated it a terrorist organization . McCormack said the seven Gaza Fulbright students must be interviewed
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The U.S . has restored Fulbright scholarships to seven Gaza-based students , saying it erred last week when it rescinded the awards because of travel restrictions that Israel imposes on the Palestinian territory . Student Hadeel Abukwaik , 23 , says she hopes to have an exit visa to leave Gaza for the U.S. by August . In e-mails to the students on Sunday , the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem said the United States was working with Israeli authorities to let them leave the Hamas-ruled zone to study at American universities . The scholarships were reinstated after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed outrage about the initial decision , State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Monday . McCormack said the initial decision was partly the result of a `` faulty decision-making process '' by the State Department . `` The secretary saw it when it got to her level . She said , ` Fix it , ' '' McCormack said . `` We hope that it has been fixed and that we are working with the Israelis to get these exit permits so that these individuals , again , can have a visa interview