Paris, France – France has announced the suspension of its program to receive refugees from Gaza, a decision prompted by a significant controversy surrounding Nour Attalah, a Gazan student who arrived in the country last month on an academic scholarship. Attalah, 25, who was set to study at Sciences Po Lille, is facing an investigation after old social media posts allegedly surfaced, containing antisemitic and pro-terrorist content. The incident has ignited widespread outrage and led to immediate policy changes in France's humanitarian efforts for Gazans.
The controversy erupted when social media posts attributed to Attalah were exposed, allegedly revealing praise for Adolf Hitler, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. The posts also reportedly called for the murder of all hostages in Gaza. According to the tweet that brought the issue to light, she even "reposted content glorifying the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack for criticizing Prophet Mohammed, and claimed Muslims should not partake in ‘Christian activities.’"
In response to the revelations, Sciences Po Lille swiftly canceled Attalah's enrollment, stating that her alleged declarations were "not compatible with our values." The Lille prosecutor's office has since opened a judicial investigation into Attalah for "glorifying terrorism" and "crimes against humanity." French officials, including Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, have condemned the content, with Retailleau asserting that "Hamas propagandists have no place in our country."
The French government's decision to suspend the Gaza refugee program comes just two weeks after it had declared all Gazans eligible for asylum. Foreign Minister Barrot confirmed the suspension, indicating that all Gazans who have already entered France will undergo a second screening. The case of Nour Attalah, who arrived in France on July 11 as one of 292 Gazans evacuated since March, has highlighted concerns regarding vetting processes for individuals entering the country under humanitarian programs. Attalah is now expected to leave France.