Flemish and Francophone Belgian universities are asking the federal foreign affairs ministry not to make it difficult for threatened Palestinian scientists to work in Belgium as a result of strictly adhering to the rules. They are asking for greater understanding for the exceptional circumstances that sometimes prevent candidates from obtaining the necessary documents. The ministry has responded saying that it is currently not feasible to expand existing evacuation plans for Belgians and their dependents.
Belgian universities request greater flexibility to allow threatened Palestinian scientists to work at universities here (VIDEO)
Colin Clapson
Published:
‘All Flemish universities have a scholarship programme,’ explains Jan Danckaert, rector of the Flemish Free University of Brussels, the VUB, and chair of the Flemish Interuniversity Council, the VLIR. ‘Just an example, we participate in the Scholars at Risk scholarship programme. This gives threatened scientists from all countries – particularly now from Palestine – the opportunity to work in our laboratories and research groups.’
Ahmed Alsalibi, 39, from the Gaza Strip, is one such threatened scientist. He is dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at the Israa University in Gaza and was due to start working at the Francophone Free Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) on a scholarship in October 2024. His visa and work permit are in order, but to obtain them, he must go to the Belgian embassy in Egypt, which is impossible because the Israelis are keeping the borders of the Gaza Strip closed.
‘I am reaching out to the Belgian government and public to ask for your support. I am legally linked to Belgium from my university and work permit and I am only asking for the chance to survive and contribute to academic field. Please help us evacuate safely from Gaza so I can take my place at ULB and give my son the chance to live in peace.’
The ULB is also committed to helping Ahmed Alsalibi and others in his situation. ‘The ULB is asking our federal government to expand the list of people eligible for evacuation,’ says Vice-Rector Anne Weyembergh, who is also responsible for the ULB's international relations.
‘That list was established in October 2023 by the previous government. The situation in the Gaza Strip has worsened since then. We know that there is now increasing evidence of genocide. We are asking for all researchers in danger to be evacuated from the Gaza Strip.’
‘We call on the Belgian foreign ministry to apply the existing rules, but to show some flexibility,’ says VLIR President Jan Danckaert. ‘We do indeed see that people are sometimes unable to obtain the required documents because they have to travel to Jerusalem – which is not possible – or because their homes have been bombed. We ask for understanding for these exceptional circumstances.’
Foreign ministry sticking to its guns
In a response to VRT NEWS, the Belgian foreign ministry says that an extension of the evacuations is not feasible at present.
‘In October 2023, the previous federal government decided to limit the evacuation from Gaza to Belgian citizens and recognised refugees.’ Nearly 500 people who meet these criteria were placed on a list, according to the ministry.
‘Despite the many obstacles and risks, the current government has decided to continue with these evacuations. Ministers are aware that the criteria could potentially be expanded. However, the current focus is on the safe and efficient evacuation of the people who were already on the list.’