The doors of our lecture halls remain open

Thirteen students from Gaza have scholarships to study at a Belgian university or the Institute of Tropical Medicine. They cannot get there. Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot (Les Engagés) had proposed evacuating them, but failed to find consensus within the federal government. "Dignity is not for sale," he responded bitterly.

Read the full article in De Standaard

As rectors, and along with many others, we are equally outraged. It is a matter of political will, and that is clearly lacking among some. Some government partners have lost their moral compass.

We do not understand the reasoning of Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA): she fears a "domino effect", believes that the students will apply for asylum here and that they will bring their family members to Belgium. The universities that awarded the scholarships were also never consulted about this. It is also unacceptable that this issue is being linked to other matters that have nothing to do with it.

These students are not illegal migrants. They were selected for a competitive scholarship by independent selection committees. Upon arrival in Belgium, they will not go to an asylum centre, but to their student accommodation; they will attend classes and have a scholarship, like other international students, to cover their living expenses. They are committed students with excellent CVs. The programmes they will follow are in line with what Gaza will need for reconstruction. After their studies, they want to return there to contribute to that effort.

The evacuation is a complex diplomatic procedure, but it is not the case that a battalion of Belgian soldiers has to go and rescue them, nor that Belgium has to send planes to pick them up. Belgium only needs to ensure that Israel allows them to leave Gaza safely and travel to a neighbouring country, from where they can take a regular flight to Belgium using the plane ticket included with their scholarship. Palestine, moreover, is on the list of priority partner countries for development cooperation officially recognised by the federal government. These are commitments that must be honoured.

We will continue to support the students in their efforts to leave Gaza and will continue to insist on a solution. We will also remain flexible regarding the scholarships that have been awarded, including their start date. The doors of our lecture halls remain open.

Herwig Leirs (UAntwerpen), Jan Danckaert (VUB), Petra De Sutter (UGent), Bernard Van Heusden (UHasselt), Severine Vermeire (KULeuven), Özge Tunçalp (ITG), Annemie Schaus (ULB).