Belgium’s king and the country’s foreign minister both say they can do no more to evacuate 13 Gaza students to take up the scholarships they won at Belgian universities, yet other European states, led by Italy, have shown it can be done.
A group of 13 Gazan students had their hopes raised last month when the Royal Palace of King Philippe replied to their appeals, only to have their hopes slashed on 10 August after the Belgian Foreign Ministry told them there was nothing that could be done.
“In the current situation, no adjustment of the visa procedure [e.g. to permit online visa applications] can in itself remove the main obstacle: the possibility of actually leaving Gaza,” according to the EUobserver.
However, countries such as the United Kingdom have demonstrated that this could be done. The Foreign Secretary has outlined in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament in June that a group of high-achieving students holding fully funded scholarships and meeting the Immigration Rules will be helped to leave Gaza to continue their studies in the UK.
They build on more than 100 fully funded scholarship students that government supported to come to the UK this academic year, ensuring talented young people and adults can continue their education.
“Talented young people from across Gaza must not be denied their chance to study because of the horrendous conditions and restrictions they still face. We will continue to run special arrangements to help Chevening scholars and other students with places at world-class UK universities to support the next generation of Palestinian leaders,” according to a press statement by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Italy and San Marino have been successful in bringing 246 scholarship students from Gaza through Italy’s IUPALS program for Palestinian students between September 2025 and June 1st.
Another 50 students are still awaiting clearance to leave the Israeli-occupied territory where most higher education institutions have been destroyed.
Due to bureaucratic red tape evacuations of students have been halted as of June 1st.
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