Dutch University Suspends Gaza Student Over Hamas Attack Video

Maastricht University in the Netherlands has temporarily suspended a 22-year-old student from Gaza after he posted a video on Instagram appearing to claim involvement in the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. The now-deleted video showed the student watching footage of the attack, pointing at armed militants on screen, and laughing as he said, "October 7th. This is me." The clip was recorded in his dorm room with three other individuals present. A copy of the video was later shared on X by the Dutch Center for Information and Documentation on Israel (CIDI), which questioned how the student passed security checks if his claim was true, or if it was mere boasting, whether the country should host students who publicly admire terror.

The university confirmed the indefinite suspension, barring the student from campus, classes, and exams while it investigates. A university spokesperson stated the decision was made to ensure a safe learning environment, citing the student's post and the subsequent social media reactions causing anxiety among students and staff. The university emphasized that the suspension is a security measure, not a punishment, and aims to protect everyone involved while the circumstances are clarified. University officials have spoken with the student, who reportedly appeared "extremely frightened" by the scandal and did not seem to have intended a major provocation. However, the university lacks the authority to investigate potential involvement in the October 7th attack.

The Dutch police have not yet launched an investigation, citing a lack of a formal complaint and that the video alone does not constitute a crime within the Netherlands. An official statement could prompt an investigation, potentially by the national investigative service. There is currently no confirmation that the student was among the attackers on October 7th; his statement could be a confession, boast, or provocation. The university itself facilitated his arrival in the Netherlands, having applied for his residence permit on April 8th. Immigration records listed his nationality as "unknown." He was part of a group of over 40 Palestinians arriving for studies or research this summer.

Further investigation by De Telegraaf revealed the student had around 30,000 Instagram followers, with most posts focusing on parkour. However, other content included gestures described as "jihadist" and a post mourning the "martyrdom of my third brother Ahmed in Jabalia," alongside a photo of a jihadist. The video surfaced the same day as a large pro-Palestinian demonstration in Maastricht. An Israeli student at the university told Ynet that the incident has created a tense atmosphere, expressing fear of being in class with someone who celebrates the massacre.

Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom, criticized the university's decision as weak, calling for the student to be expelled from the country. He also demanded the prosecution of Education Minister Mariann van der Plas for incompetence, accusing her of allowing the student into the university and of being "sickly in love with Islam."