France, Sept. 26 -- France's recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations this week has led to calls for it to reinstate evacuations from Gaza, which were halted on 1 August following antisemitic posts by a Gazan student at Lille University. The suspension has left scientists, artists and students who were due to arrive in France on special visas in limbo.

Of the hundreds of people evacuated from Gaza to France since the conflict in the enclave broke out in October 2023, 73 have come as part of a partly state-funded humanitarian programme known as Pause.

Run by the prestigious College de France research institute, Pause provides special one-year visas to artists and scientists in danger.

Since 2017, it has supported more ...