Belgium awards scholarships to Palestinian students — but gives them no way to leave Gaza
Belgian evacuations from Gaza have ground to a halt amid disagreements in Prime Minister Bart de Wever’s coalition government.
Belgian universities have offered scholarships to Palestinian students and researchers for the upcoming fall semester, but a disagreement over Gaza evacuations has left them unable to travel. The issue arises from Belgium’s coalition government, led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever, which is divided on the matter. While other EU countries have successfully organized student evacuations, Belgium has not yet taken action.
The students' case highlights the conflict between Belgium's strong pro-Palestine stance and its anti-migration policies. Visa requirements are a procedural obstacle, but the primary issue is the lack of coordination among coalition parties. Some members, like the French-speaking centrist Reformist Movement party (MR) and Prime Minister De Wever’s New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), are against further evacuations.
The scholarship recipients, such as Salwa Abu Elhaj and Ahmed Alsalibi, see their offers as life-changing opportunities to study and contribute to rebuilding their home countries. However, without a way to leave Gaza, their dreams remain unfulfilled.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
