Students in Gaza ‘devastated’ after plan for them to study in Belgium fails

What Happened

The Belgian five-party coalition government failed to reach an agreement last Friday on a proposal to evacuate 13 Palestinian students and researchers from the Gaza Strip to Belgium. The students, who have secured scholarships at various Belgian universities, remain trapped in Gaza and are unable to obtain visas, which require in-person applications in Jerusalem, Cairo, or Jordan. The proposal, introduced by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, was withdrawn after being rejected by the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) party, which linked the evacuation to broader demands regarding the deportation of irregular migrants and returns to Afghanistan.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The deadlock highlights the intersection of humanitarian crises in Gaza and domestic political tensions within European governments regarding migration policy. While other nations like Italy and the UK have previously negotiated evacuations for researchers, the Belgian case demonstrates how internal coalition disagreements can effectively block individual humanitarian pathways, leaving students unable to access education or contribute to future reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

Watch For

Monitor the statement expected from Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt in the Belgian parliament this Wednesday, which may clarify the government's final stance on the evacuation proposal.