Belgian universities denounce “inhumane” deadlock over Gaza student visas

Belgian universities are opposing the government’s decisions to deny visas to students and researchers from Gaza, describing them as “inhumane”.

In an interview with News Tank Academic on 19/10/2026, Koen Verlaeckt, Secretary General of the Flemish Interuniversity Council (Vlir), said that some Belgian politicians are using Gaza student visas "as a kind of very inhuman bargaining chip in the broader discussions about the policy priorities of the federal government, whether it relates to the budget discussions or to strengthening asylum and migration procedures".

14 students, the majority of whom are postdoctoral researchers, who have been awarded Belgian scholarships, are unable to obtain or recover the visas that would enable them to come to Belgium to study and carry out research…