France Pauses Gaza Evacuations Amid Antisemitism Allegations Against Student

France has halted its evacuation program for Palestinians fleeing Gaza following an incident involving a Palestinian student accused of antisemitism.

France has officially suspended its program for receiving Palestinians fleeing the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a decision announced by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. This pause in operations will remain until an investigation into a 25-year-old Palestinian student, who made alleged antisemitic statements online, is completed. The student, who was on scholarship and residing in Lille, has had her accreditation rescinded by her university, Sciences Po Lille, and is expected to leave France shortly.

Since the onset of hostilities between Israel and Hamas after the October 7, 2023 attacks, France has facilitated the safe passage for over 500 individuals from Gaza. The woman in question arrived in France in July, prior to the commencement of her classes at the prestigious institution.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed his strong disapproval of the woman's remarks on social media platform X, stating that he had requested her account be deactivated and that legal actions would be considered. "Hamas propagandists have no place in our country," Retailleau asserted, emphasizing the urgency of situation. Furthermore, he indicated that Palestinians that have already evacuated to France will now undergo additional vetting due to what he characterized as “failures” in the entry process that allowed this student into the country.

Sciences Po Lille affirmed to the AFP news agency that the individual's comments were antithetical to the values upheld by the university, confirming her deregistration. The university's director highlighted that the woman was among those brought to safety as part of a program managed by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The situation raises larger questions about the screening processes of individuals entering France during this humanitarian effort and the broader implications for France's approach to handling antisemitism within its borders amidst ongoing geopolitical turmoil.