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Belgium’s immigration minister, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, said on 10 September that the country must consider whether to send planes to bring 13 students from Gaza to Israel or Jordan, and whether to apply the same policy to other groups.
Van Bossuyt, a member of the right‑wing nationalist N‑VA party, told EUobserver that “we must also consider what that would mean … are we going to send planes everywhere to bring people to Belgium? And if we make an exception for this group, why don’t we do the same for students or other groups from, for example, Sudan, Yemen, or Afghanistan?” She added that the 13 students would be “the thin end of a wedge of needy migrants.”
The students, who have earned scholarships at top Belgian universities, need assistance to travel from the Gaza Strip. The debate has become a headline‑grabbing story in the small but symbolic country that hosts EU institutions.
The ruling coalition is split on the issue. The N‑VA and the liberal MR party oppose helping the students, while the centrist LE, CD&V and the left‑wing Vooruit parties support bringing them in. Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot (LE) has drafted detailed evacuation plans.
Israel’s authority that controls access to Gaza, COGAT, told EUobserver that it had no objections to student evacuations and that it approved 98 % of such requests by foreign embassies. “Israel facilitates and encourages residents of the Gaza Strip to depart for third countries, including for the purpose of pursuing their studies,” COGAT said. “The departure of residents from the Gaza Strip is facilitated subject to the submission of a request by a third country willing to receive the resident, and following the completion of security screening.”
Ahmed Abu Jami, one of the 13 students, said from Khan Younis in Gaza that “why is she [
Article and image source: euobserver.com
