France Suspends Gaza Evacuations Amid Antisemitism Investigation

In light of recent developments, the French government has suspended its evacuation program for Palestinians fleeing Gaza. This decision follows allegations against a Palestinian student in France who reportedly made antisemitic comments online. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that no further evacuations will occur until an investigation is concluded. The student, a 25-year-old woman studying under a scholarship in Lille, is set to be deported after her university withdrew her accreditation over the matter.

France has facilitated the safe passage of over 500 individuals from Gaza since the onset of hostilities between Israel and Hamas after the attacks on October 7, 2023. The accused student arrived in France in July and was scheduled to attend classes at Sciences Po Lille university this autumn. However, following the controversy, the university revoked her registration. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed his discontent on social media, calling for the closure of the student's online account and asserting that "Hamas propagandists have no place in our country."

As part of a broader review, Palestinians already in France under this evacuation program will face re-evaluation due to "failures that allowed this young woman to be admitted," Retailleau stated. He also highlighted that the initial security assessments conducted by French authorities and Israeli officials failed to identify the seriousness of her comments, which the university confirmed were contrary to its values. The student was among those evacuated as part of a program overseen by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, as detailed by the director of Sciences Po Lille in communications with the media.