Khaberni - French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Baro confirmed on Wednesday that France has suspended, for logistical reasons, the registration of citizens from Gaza in the "PAUSE" program, which is an emergency program for hosting scholars and artists at risk.
The minister said during a government question session in the Senate, "We recently had to suspend registration for the PAUSE program," emphasizing the need to reopen the Rafah crossing to resume the program.
Baro added that without reopening this border crossing with Egypt, "it seems difficult, if not impossible, to carry out these evacuations. It is inappropriate to give these beneficiaries hope of being able to be received in France while they are in fact prevented from crossing." He confirmed that his ministry is "working daily to obtain the approval of the Israeli authorities" to reopen the Rafah crossing.
"The priority is to reopen the border crossings, after which we can resume the PAUSE program under normal conditions."
Since the unprecedented attack launched by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, "50 Palestinian beneficiaries of the PAUSE program and their families" were able to reach France, according to the minister.
Since 2017, the PAUSE program, established by Collège de France, has supported the emergency reception of scholars and artists at risk from around the world.
Marion Sletin, a researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research and founder of the group "Together" (for Gaza's artists) said on Monday, during a press conference held by artists and researchers to denounce the siege and the restrictions on receiving Gaza's residents in France, that "21 beneficiaries are still stuck in Gaza with their families, totaling 115 people," in programs that were scheduled by the end of 2025.
The French Foreign Ministry suspended evacuation operations from Gaza in the summer of 2025 after a loophole in the vetting procedures allowed a student (outside the PAUSE program) to enter France following the publication of messages considered anti-Semitic.
In October last year, France resumed evacuation operations, where 20 people arrived in its territory.
Since November 2023, at least 500 people, both French and Palestinians, have been evacuated directly from the Gaza Strip through operations organized by the French Foreign Ministry.
