Palestinian researchers from the Gaza Strip have been unable to take up scholarships offered by Belgian universities, even though they hold the required documents, due to the ongoing Israeli siege.
KU Leuven collaborates with funding initiatives such as the Daughters for Life Foundation and Scholars at Risk, which aim to support threatened scholars by allowing them to continue their work in safer countries.
“One student received a scholarship to come to Belgium through Daughters for Life but cannot reach our country,” KU Leuven Spokesperson Nena Testelmans explained. “All her documents are in order, but she cannot access the Belgian embassy in Jerusalem to complete the process.”
The Israeli blockade prevents individuals from Gaza from travelling to the embassy.
At the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), two scholarship recipients — a student and a postdoctoral researcher —are also unable to proceed with their academic plans. “One is currently in Egypt, and the other in Yemen,” said VUB spokesperson Tineke Sonck. “Neither can obtain the necessary visa in Jerusalem. Moreover, Belgium does not have an embassy in Yemen.”
The University of Liège (ULiège) is likewise attempting to help a linguistics and artificial intelligence researcher to leave Gaza under the 'Universités hospitalières' programme, which assists scholars fleeing conflict or danger.
“We’ve allocated funding for him to continue his research in Liège for two years, but getting him out of Gaza is nearly impossible,” said Michel Moutschen, Vice-Rector for Research. “We’re even questioning whether he will survive long enough to make it to Belgium.”
