France Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has announced the suspension of all evacuations from Gaza and the deportation of a Palestinian student accused of sharing antisemitic content online.
The decision follows mounting outrage over the student’s social media activity, which French officials have described as “Hamas propaganda.”
“She must leave the country. She does not have a place in France,” Barrot told France Info radio on Friday.
He did not clarify whether the student would be deported back to Gaza.
The unnamed student had recently been admitted to Sciences Po Lille, a university in northern France, which has now revoked her enrollment.
The school cited a violation of its core principles in response to the controversy surrounding her reposts.
“(Sciences Po Lille) fights against all forms of racism, antisemitism, and discrimination, as well as against any type of call to hatred, against any population whatsoever,” the institution stated on Wednesday via its official X account.
Barrot explained that both French and Israeli screening prior to the student’s arrival had failed to detect the “antisemitic and unacceptable” nature of her online activity.
As a result, the foreign ministry has halted further evacuations from Gaza until an investigation into the case is complete.
France has facilitated the evacuation of several hundred individuals from the war-torn enclave following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Just days earlier, Barrot emphasized that France was “dedicating lots of energy” to rescue journalists from the AFP news agency who remain trapped in Gaza. The foreign ministry has not indicated whether those efforts will now be paused.
Despite the controversy, Barrot acknowledged the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying it remains “inhumane,” and “a scandal that must stop immediately.”
The Ministry of Higher Education and Research, consulted during the decision to expel the student, also condemned her posts. Minister Philippe Baptiste posted on X, stating, “France does not have to welcome international students who advocate for terrorism, crimes against humanity, and antisemitism. Whether they come from Gaza or elsewhere, international students holding or relaying such statements have no place in our country.”
Other government officials have referred the case to the judiciary, further fueling national debate.