France suspends intake of migrants from Gaza Over antisemitism outcry

France has halted the admission of migrants from the Gaza Strip following a controversy involving a Palestinian student accused of making antisemitic remarks, the country’s foreign minister has announced.

Jean-Noël Barrot told broadcaster France Info that the suspension came after it emerged the student had called for “killing Jews” and posted images of Adolf Hitler online, Caliber.Az reports.

“There will be no more evacuations of any kind until we have drawn conclusions from this investigation,” Barrot said.

He added that Palestinians who have already arrived in France from Gaza will now undergo fresh security checks.

The minister expressed regret that the student’s antisemitic statements had not been detected earlier by the authorities.

“She has no place in France and must leave the country,” he said.

In July 2025, France's National Court of Asylum (CNDA) ruled that all Palestinians from Gaza are eligible for refugee status, citing systemic persecution by Israeli military actions.

This decision was based on the 1951 Geneva Convention, which protects individuals facing persecution due to their nationality. The court recognised Palestinians as a distinct group with shared cultural, linguistic, and geographic identity, thereby qualifying them for group-based protection.

The ruling was influenced by the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where ongoing conflict has resulted in significant civilian casualties and displacement.

Reports indicate that since the onset of hostilities in October 2023, Gaza has experienced indiscriminate violence affecting its civilian population.

The closure of UNRWA operations in Gaza has further exacerbated the crisis, leaving many without critical aid

By Aghakazim Guliyev