France Halts Gaza Evacuations Amid Antisemitism Allegations Against Student

Following antisemitic allegations against a Palestinian student in France, the country has suspended its program for evacuating Palestinians from Gaza pending investigation, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot highlighting a need for stricter vetting.

France has suspended its initiative to assist Palestinians fleeing Gaza in the wake of an antisemitism controversy surrounding a Palestinian student. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that the program will remain on hold as an investigation is conducted into the student's comments made online. The 25-year-old woman, who was on a scholarship in Lille, will be required to leave France after her university rescinded her enrollment.

Since the onset of hostilities between Israel and Hamas on 7 October 2023, France has successfully evacuated over 500 individuals from Gaza. The student, who arrived in France in July, was set to begin her studies at Sciences Po Lille when her registration was cancelled.

Bruno Retailleau, France's Interior Minister, called for the closure of the student’s social media account, asserting that "Hamas propagandists have no place in our country." In light of recent events, Barrot stressed that Palestinians currently in France through the evacuation program will undergo new security assessments, given the previous failure to detect the concerning remarks.

The administration also confirmed that the university has deemed the student’s posts as fundamentally contradictory to its values, marking a significant point of scrutiny during the investigation. The student was among those evacuated under the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs' initiative, raising further discussions on the necessity for enhanced vetting measures for future assistance programs.