Belgium denies evacuation aid to 13 Gazan scholars

Ahmed Abu Jami, a 28-year-old physician accepted into an Antwerp master’s program, believes the delay is a calculated move to force students to abandon their studies. He intended to use the training at the Institute of Tropical Medicine to support Gaza’s crippled medical infrastructure. Unlike the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy, which have established diplomatic corridors for students in conflict zones, Brussels maintains a rigid stance.

Immigration and Asylum Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt defended the government's inaction during a recent commission hearing, arguing that granting special passage would be inhumane toward students from other nations like Sudan, Yemen, or Afghanistan. By framing the refusal as a matter of equality, Van Bossuyt dismissed calls for a targeted evacuation, insisting that Belgium cannot ethically prioritize one nationality over another.