Dutch Language Course Rejects Israeli Student Over Stance on Gaza Conflict

An Israeli man living in the Netherlands, identified only as Y., was denied admission to a Dutch language course after refusing to acknowledge the term "Palestinian genocide" during an admissions interview. The instructor stated he only wanted to work with students who shared his views on the conflict. When Y. expressed that he did not consider "genocide" to be a fact in Gaza, the instructor accused him of being in "denial" and told him to find another school.

The incident occurred during an interview for a Dutch language course, where the instructor immediately asked Y. about his stance on the war in Gaza. The instructor explained that it was important for him to work with people who held the same opinion regarding the "Palestinian genocide," citing the presence of Palestinians in their community and his desire to work with individuals who strongly opposed their government's actions. Y. responded that the situation was complex, mentioning that he had lost his uncle on October 7th, and stated he did not agree with the term "genocide."

During the recorded conversation, the instructor insisted that "everyone agrees on one thing, and that is that there is a deliberate genocide." Y. countered that he did not believe a deliberate genocide was occurring in Gaza, though he acknowledged that war crimes may have been committed and should be investigated. He reiterated that he did not want to participate in a conversation that presented the claim of genocide as fact, as he felt it had not yet been investigated.

The instructor then stated, "You are in denial, and I don't like that. I wish you all the best at another school. Good luck." Following the rejection, the Dutch Center for Information and Documentation on Israel (CIDI) filed a complaint of discrimination with the Dutch Institute for Human Rights, calling the case an example of the treatment Israelis and Jews face in the Netherlands.

This case follows a recent incident at Maastricht University, where a Palestinian student was suspended after posting a video on social media that appeared to show him watching footage of Hamas militants on October 7th and saying, "Seventh of October. This is me." The university suspended the student due to concerns about unease among students and staff.