France has halted its initiative to receive Palestinians escaping Gaza after allegations surfaced of antisemitic remarks made by a Palestinian student in the country, according to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. The 25-year-old, studying in Lille on a scholarship, faces deportation after her university revoked her enrollment. Since conflict began between Israel and Hamas following the October 7, 2023, attacks, France has aided over 500 individuals in leaving Gaza. The student, who arrived in July, was expected to start classes at Sciences Po Lille in the autumn but has now been unenrolled, the university reported.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called for the closure of her social media account and for legal measures, asserting “Hamas supporters are unwelcome in our nation.” Palestinians already in France through this process will undergo “renewed scrutiny” due to the discrepancies that allowed this student to enter, Barrot mentioned. He added that prior security screenings by French and Israeli services failed to uncover the “troubling comments” made by the student. Sciences Po Lille confirmed to AFP that her statements were inconsistent with the institution’s values. The student was part of a French government-run evacuation program from Gaza, the director of Sciences Po Lille informed a French publication.
Meanwhile, a UK politician is urging the immigration minister to expand a French travel scheme. Aurore Bergé and Benjamin Haddad criticized Spain’s transport minister’s remarks amid ongoing diplomatic tension. In 2025, the UK’s Home Office reported 24,000 arrivals via small boats. The prime minister faces domestic and international calls to recognize a Palestinian state.
Georges Abdallah will be deported to Lebanon following his release.
