A prestigious French university has revoked the admission of a Palestinian student from Gaza after her social media posts—deemed “hateful” by authorities—sparked nationwide outrage.
Sciences Po Lille announced Wednesday it had canceled the woman’s enrollment following an uproar over her alleged reposts of messages inciting violence against Jewish people. The university stated that the posts “directly contradict our values of fighting racism, antisemitism, and hatred in all forms.”
The student had initially been granted a place at the university based on a recommendation from the French consulate in Jerusalem and was temporarily housed by the school’s director while awaiting permanent accommodation. However, after an internal review and consultations with government officials, her registration was terminated, and her social media accounts were shut down.
French officials reacted swiftly, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot declaring, “A Gazan student making antisemitic remarks has no place in France,” and ordering an investigation into the screening process that allowed her admission. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called for legal action, stating, “Hamas propagandists have no place in our country.”
Meanwhile, in Belgium, Brussels Free University (ULB) urged authorities to help evacuate a Gaza-based researcher, Ahmed Alsalibi, who holds a scholarship for scholars in conflict zones but remains trapped due to the ongoing war. ULB’s rector condemned the situation as “humanly and morally unacceptable.”
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The incident has intensified debates over free speech, security vetting, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.