Following antisemitism allegations against a Palestinian student, France has paused its evacuation programme for Palestinians fleeing from Gaza.
France Halts Palestinian Evacuations Amid Antisemitism Controversy
France Halts Palestinian Evacuations Amid Antisemitism Controversy
France's suspension of Palestinian evacuations follows the investigation of a student accused of antisemitic remarks.
France has officially put a stop to its evacuation programme aimed at assisting Palestinians escaping the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This decision comes in light of accusations against a 25-year-old Palestinian student residing in Lille, who is alleged to have made antisemitic remarks on social media. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the suspension, stating that no further evacuations will occur until a thorough investigation is conducted regarding the allegations.
The student, who arrived in France in July on a scholarship and was set to attend Sciences Po Lille university, has had her accreditation revoked and must now leave the country. This move is part of a broader scrutiny of those evacuated from Gaza, as Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed concerns over the vetting processes conducted by both French state services and Israeli authorities. Retailleau emphasized that such expressions of antisemitism have no place in France, calling for the closure of the student’s online accounts and seeking legal actions against her for her remarks.
France's evacuation programme has seen over 500 individuals safely relocated from Gaza since hostilities escalated following the October 7 attacks. However, the incident involving the student has raised alarms about potential security failures in the screening process of evacuees. The director of Sciences Po Lille confirmed to the media that the student’s online activities contradicted the university’s values. Moving forward, all Palestinians in France under this repatriation scheme will be subjected to new assessments following this incident.
The student, who arrived in France in July on a scholarship and was set to attend Sciences Po Lille university, has had her accreditation revoked and must now leave the country. This move is part of a broader scrutiny of those evacuated from Gaza, as Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed concerns over the vetting processes conducted by both French state services and Israeli authorities. Retailleau emphasized that such expressions of antisemitism have no place in France, calling for the closure of the student’s online accounts and seeking legal actions against her for her remarks.
France's evacuation programme has seen over 500 individuals safely relocated from Gaza since hostilities escalated following the October 7 attacks. However, the incident involving the student has raised alarms about potential security failures in the screening process of evacuees. The director of Sciences Po Lille confirmed to the media that the student’s online activities contradicted the university’s values. Moving forward, all Palestinians in France under this repatriation scheme will be subjected to new assessments following this incident.
