The British Consulate in Jerusalem invited Zakout (pictured above) and five fellow Paralympic athletes on the Palestinian London 2012 team to the pre-Games celebration in Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Zakout, who won two golds in javelin and shot put at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sport (IWAS) Senior World Championships in Dubai in December 2011, says he was the only athlete denied entry, which the Israeli military say was for security reasons.

However, the 47-year-old says he has no security record and worked in Israel before he was paralysed in a work accident there in 1992.

He says he cannot think of any reason why he would pose a security risk to Israel.

"The objective of the visit was to get psychological support and moral strength to prepare for the Games and I also wanted to show other disabled Palestinians that it is possible to succeed, achieve and live a healthy life, despite physical impairment," Zakout said.

"I wanted to prove to all people that Palestinians are strong, that they have will and are persistent through their hardships.

"Disability only lies in the mind, not in the body."

Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service have made no comment regarding the issue.

Zakout competes in the javelin and shot put and receives no funding – buying his own kit and sports wheelchair, and training in a public park in Gaza City.

"I have no professional advice on particular training techniques or specific diets for my athletic condition," he said.

"Even if I had, I would rather provide my family with adequate food, than find for myself the special vitamins I need."

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