France has temporarily paused its evacuation program for Palestinians fleeing Gaza following allegations of antisemitic remarks made online by a student who arrived under the initiative.
The decision comes after a 25-year-old Palestinian woman, enrolled at Sciences Po Lille on a scholarship, faced expulsion when her social media posts came under scrutiny. Authorities stated that security screenings—conducted by both French and Israeli officials—failed to flag the controversial comments before her arrival in July.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called for legal action, asserting that “those spreading Hamas propaganda have no place in France.” Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed that no further evacuations would proceed until the investigation concludes.
France has assisted over 500 individuals in leaving Gaza since the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated last October. Palestinians already relocated under the scheme will now undergo additional vetting to prevent similar oversights.
The university revoked the student’s enrollment, citing her remarks as contradictory to its values. Officials emphasized the need for stricter scrutiny to ensure such incidents do not recur.
The suspension reflects heightened tensions in Europe over the war’s fallout, with governments balancing humanitarian efforts against security concerns.
