France Quietly Resumes Evacuations of Palestinians from Gaza After Summer Suspension
France quietly restarts evacuations of Palestinians from Gaza after summer pause caused by security concerns and social media controversies.
- • France evacuated 20 Palestinian scholarship students from Gaza on October 27.
- • Approximately 500 Gazans have been evacuated since October 7.
- • Evacuations paused in summer over antisemitic social media posts by a Gaza student.
- • Operations managed by a crisis cell at the French consulate in Jerusalem with security vetting by Israeli authorities.
- • French government strengthened vetting after summer controversy and emphasizes Republican values.
Key details
On October 27, France resumed evacuating Palestinians from Gaza, with twenty scholarship students evacuated recently as part of ongoing efforts by the French government. This resumption follows a summer halt caused by controversies surrounding antisemitic social media posts by a Gaza student who had arrived in France. Diplomatic sources confirm that about 500 Gazans have been evacuated since early October, highlighting the delicate coordination required for these operations.
The evacuations are managed by a crisis cell at the French consulate in Jerusalem, established two years ago, which identifies eligible individuals for repatriation. These include French nationals, their families, scholarship recipients, and Palestinian figures with ties to France. The process involves multiple state agencies, diplomatic networks, and requires local permissions to exit Gaza and transit to France. Israeli authorities vet security aspects before the French consulate issues visas.
The recent evacuation was scaled back due to incomplete authorizations. Those excluded are being considered for future operations. Arriving in France on Tuesday, the students represent a continuation of France's commitment to humanitarian assistance amid complex political and security challenges.
Following internal investigations triggered by the summer controversy, France strengthened its vetting procedures to prevent similar incidents and emphasized that evacuees must align with the Republic's values and principles. This ongoing operation reflects France's cautious but determined approach to supporting Palestinians linked to France amid regional tensions.