Serious concerns have been raised over the recent evacuation of Palestinians from Gaza, organised discreetly by the French Embassy. On 23 April 2025, 115 Palestinians were moved through the Karam Abu Salem crossing and the King Hussein Bridge, under an operation critics say lacked transparency and accountability.

Dr Ramy Abdu, head of the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, questioned the opaque nature of the evacuation, citing the absence of clear selection criteria and a media blackout that fuelled suspicion. Evacuees were reportedly instructed not to publicise their departure, while the French government only acknowledged the operation after growing public pressure.

Among those evacuated were dual nationals, individuals with family links to France, scholarship holders, and so-called “Palestinian figures connected to France” — a vague categorisation that has raised further questions. Dr Abdu criticised the inconsistency, pointing out that some names were selected over a year ago, while others were added hastily in recent weeks. He warned that such measures risk contributing to a strategy of forced displacement, draining Gaza of its intellectual and academic lifeblood at a time of unprecedented crisis.

The operation’s timing has also sparked outrage, coinciding with France’s continued diplomatic engagement with Israeli leaders accused of war crimes, and its failure to deliver meaningful humanitarian aid to Gaza’s devastated population. Dr Abdu stressed that the right to seek safety must not be manipulated to serve broader political objectives that threaten Palestinians' right to return to their homeland.

As the siege on Gaza intensifies, the silence surrounding such operations risks enabling policies that aim to strip Palestinians of their land, dignity, and future.