'Palestinian student crisis' in Belgium: They cannot leave Gaza

According to the official Belga agency, although a compromise was reached between the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot and the Minister of Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt regarding the admission of Palestinian students to the country, no agreement was reached on the approval of the said compromise at the federal government's cabinet meeting.

While Prevot stated that the liberal Francophone MR party was the only coalition partner that prevented reconciliation, he underlined that the future of 13 Palestinian young people who received scholarships to continue their education at Belgian universities should be kept separate from immigration policy discussions.

MR Deputy Chairman David Clarinval opposed Prevot's statement and stated that they needed more time for experts to examine the draft agreement and especially the tasks of the working group that is envisaged to be established.

13 PALESTINE SCHOLARS CANNOT LEAVE GAZA

13 Palestinian students and researchers who received scholarships to study or conduct research at universities in Belgium cannot travel to the country because they cannot leave Gaza.

In the discussions on the issue, which has been on the agenda before in Belgium, the effects of accepting students into the country on possible asylum and family reunification applications came to the fore.

It was stated that the compromise reached between Prevot and Van Bossuyt included a provision stipulating that students should not use their arrival in Belgium as a reason for asylum or family reunification applications.

The compromise also envisaged the establishment of a working group, chaired by Van Bossuyt, in order to accelerate and make more effective the return of people who do not have the right to reside in the country.