Belgium Rejects Gaza Students Despite Visas and Scholarships
Belgium's State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, Nicole de Moor, has expressed opposition to Palestinian students from Gaza arriving in the country, even though they have secured visas and scholarships. These statements were made on Sunday regarding Palestinian students who obtained educational visas and scholarships, some of whom have been waiting for nearly two years to travel to Belgium.
De Moor stated that the arrival of these students could lead to family reunification requests or asylum applications. Despite the small number of applicants, only 13 students, she warned of a "domino effect" and the potential for families to follow. She justified this stance by citing the possibility of similar requests from students from Yemen, Sudan, or Afghanistan.
The Belgian government faces criticism for its lack of political consensus within the ruling coalition regarding the evacuation of students and researchers from Gaza. Critics argue that visa procedures have not been adapted to current circumstances and that the fact some students obtained visas through legal means indicates administrative solutions are not entirely impossible.
The last evacuation from Gaza involved 24 Belgian citizens and residents who exited via the Kerem Shalom crossing in March 2025. In June, students with scholarships and acceptances from institutions like the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Hasselt University, and the University of Antwerp were unable to leave Gaza.
In late August, a spokesperson for the Belgian Foreign Minister stated that no joint government decision had been made on a new evacuation. The primary obstacle, he explained, is not visa procedures but ensuring actual departure from Gaza, as leaving is currently only possible through third-country organized evacuations or medical evacuations coordinated with the World Health Organization.
