Maastricht University Suspends Gaza Student Over 7 October Video

The Social Media Video and CIDI’s Intervention

The controversy began when the Centre for Information and Documentation Israel (CIDI) shared the student’s Instagram post on X on Friday afternoon, as reported by NRC. In the 30,000-follower account’s video, the student lies on a couch, films an Al Jazeera broadcast showing the Al-Qassam brigade’s perspective of the October 7 attacks, points a finger at the screen, and states, “Seventh of october,” followed by “This is me.” CIDI’s post quickly gained about 450,000 views, prompting intense online debate and raising questions about how the student cleared security screenings prior to arrival.

Maastricht University’s Response and Student Status

Universiteit Maastricht spokesperson Koen Augustijn stated that the institution became aware of the video through CIDI’s post on Saturday, according to NRC. Facing immediate public unrest, the university chose to provisionally suspend the student from all educational activities to protect the safety of teachers and fellow students. University representatives met with the student, who was reportedly “enormously startled by all the commotion” and did not appear to have planned a calculated provocation, according to NOS.

The student arrived in the Netherlands in July alongside roughly forty other students and researchers from Gaza, entering through standard admissions and visa procedures handled by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Unlike five Palestinian students who received university scholarships the previous year, this student finances his education independently or through an alternative grant.

Police and Immigration Authorities Await Formal Complaints

Law enforcement officials have adopted a cautious approach to the incident. A police spokesperson told NOS that the student has not committed a punishable offense under Dutch law based solely on the video clip, meaning an investigation cannot start without a formal criminal complaint. Authorities note that if an inquiry eventually begins, the national criminal investigation department (Dienst Landelijke Recherche) could handle the case. Meanwhile, Universiteit Maastricht officially notified the IND of the video on Monday, acting in its official capacity as the referent of the student’s visa.