Gaza Students Devastated as Belgium Study Plans Collapse

Scholarship Holders Face Deadlock Over Evacuation Plans

Belgium’s federal government hit an impasse last Friday over a proposal to extract 13 students and researchers from Gaza, leaving scholarship recipients facing the potential loss of another academic year. Ahmed Abujami, a 28-year-old doctor in Gaza, stated to the Guardian via a messaging app that he was deeply disappointed by the outcome. Abujami secured a scholarship to complete a one-year master’s degree in public health at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, aiming to gain skills to help rebuild Gaza’s health system.

Like the other scholars in the group, Abujami cannot apply for a Belgian visa locally because applications require an in-person appearance in Jerusalem or Cairo, destinations he cannot reach while blocked inside the Gaza Strip. Salwa Abu Elhaj, a 23-year-old graduate hoping to study communications sciences at KU Leuven, noted that uncertainty grows with every passing day. She currently lives in a tent in central Gaza with her family after their home was destroyed.

Political Divisions Stall Relief Efforts in Brussels

Maxime Prévot, a Belgian deputy leader and foreign minister, announced he withdrew the evacuation proposal after it faced total rejection from a coalition partner unless concessions were made regarding returns to Afghanistan and migration return hubs. Prévot stated that dignity is not for sale, according to press reports.

Conversely, Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt, a member of the New Flemish Alliance party, opposed entry for the 13 students. Van Bossuyt argued that the move would set a precedent leading to a domino effect for applicants from other regions, such as Yemen or Sudan, unless accompanied by stricter deportation enforcement for irregular migrants and convicted criminals. Van Bossuyt was expected to address the issue in the Belgian parliament.

Academic Leaders Condemn the Government Impasse

Rectors from seven involved academic institutions published a joint article in De Standaard expressing outrage over the political deadlock. The academic leaders asserted that the students are not illegal migrants, noting they earned competitive scholarships through independent selection committees and possess funding to cover living expenses.

Ahmed Alsalibi, a 39-year-old computer science professor awarded a fellowship at the Free University of Brussels in May 2024, stated that the failure to reach an agreement has been painful. Alsalibi hopes to develop artificial intelligence systems to optimize ambulance dispatch in Gaza. Although his visa is approved, he remains unable to travel to Cairo, Jordan, or Jerusalem to collect it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t the Gaza students apply for their visas online?

Belgian visa regulations require applicants to submit their paperwork in person at designated diplomatic missions located in Jerusalem or Cairo, which the trapped scholars cannot access.

Which universities accepted the scholarship recipients?

Institutions involved include the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, KU Leuven, and the Free University of Brussels (ULB), among others represented by a joint group of seven rectors.

Have other European nations evacuated students from Gaza?

Yes, Italy and the UK have successfully negotiated exits for researchers and students trapped in Gaza over the past year.