By dpa
BERLIN (CONVERSEER) – Germany’s federal government has responded cautiously to city-level initiatives aimed at evacuating vulnerable children from the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Thorsten Frei, chief of staff to the German chancellor and a senior member of the centre-right Christian Democrats, emphasised that helping people on the ground remains the priority.
Frei, speaking on Monday to broadcaster RTL/ntv, said the goal should be to provide assistance that can help as many people as possible.
“That’s why I’m cautious when it comes to the idea of flying out individuals. In such cases, we’d only be talking about a handful of people, and there would be numerous other questions to clarify,” he said.
Germany’s Interior Ministry has also voiced reservations.
“The feasibility of such initiatives depends significantly on the security situation, the possibility of departure, and other factors,” a spokesman said in response to a query from dpa.
Despite federal hesitation, the cities of Hanover and Dusseldorf announced plans last week to take in children from Gaza and Israel who are especially vulnerable or traumatised. Hanover, for example, proposed offering help to up to 20 children.
However, city officials acknowledged that any such initiative would require political support at the federal level, particularly for entry procedures, selection criteria and medical coordination.
