Full Breakdown
Maastricht University Suspends Palestinian Student After Instagram Claim of Involvement in Oct. 7 Attack
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
A 22-year-old Palestinian student from the Gaza Strip was provisionally suspended from Maastricht University after posting an Instagram video in which he watched footage of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and said, “That’s me.” The university barred him from campus, classes and exams while it assesses whether he may continue his studies.
Background & Context
The student arrived in the Netherlands after the university submitted an application for a temporary residence permit on April 8; the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service approved the permit. He is among more than 40 Palestinians from Gaza who were invited by the Dutch government to study or work in the country this summer.
In the weeks surrounding the incident, the Dutch government enacted a ban, effective September 22, on the import, purchase and sale of products originating in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. The measure was presented as a way to curb economic activity that sustains the settlements.
Official Statements & Responses
He added that the university would speak with the student to determine the conditions under which he might resume his studies.
Dutch authorities stated that no criminal investigation has been opened because the video alone does not constitute sufficient grounds for prosecution.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten, after being briefly disrupted by pro-Hamas protesters at a party congress, described the demonstrators’ behavior as “respectful” and reiterated his support for freedom of expression while acknowledging the broader concerns about the war in Gaza.
Criticism & Opposition
Far-right politician Geert Wilders called for the student’s deportation and demanded that the education minister face prosecution.
Diederik Boomsma, a lawmaker for the right-wing JA21 party, posted on X: “This kid claims involvement in Oct. 7. Was he even screened?” He urged the government to halt the issuance of provisional residence visas for Gaza-origin students, describing them as “Gazan terror scum.”
Data & Statistics
- The student’s Instagram account reportedly has around 30,000 followers and includes posts featuring jihadist gestures.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Dutch police have not opened a criminal investigation, and university officials have not confirmed whether they will file a complaint. The video’s claim of participation in the October 7 attack remains unverified; authorities say the footage alone is insufficient to establish involvement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This kid claims involvement in Oct. 7. Was he even screened?” — Diederik Boomsma
What’s Next
The university has indicated that it will determine, during the suspension period, whether the student may continue his studies and under what conditions. No further legal actions have been announced.