Haitham Imad/EPA
Italy and Spain are doing so. Some German cities wanted to treat seriously sick and traumatized Palestinian children, but two federal ministries crashed the initiative.
Five German cities offered to welcome and provide medical treatment to severely sick or traumatized children from the Gaza Strip, devastated after 22 months of war.
The proposal was presented by the cities of Hannover, Düsseldorf, Bona, Leipzig and Kielbut all need federal government support to move forward. The federal authorities would have to take over the entry procedures in the country, the selection of children and the general coordination of humanitarian aid efforts.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Alexander Dobrindt of the Social-Christian Union (CSU), and the Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul of the Democratic Union (CDU), the presidents of these chambers asked for help.
The federal government, however, has reservations on the initiative, and the Ministries of Foreign and Internal Affairs want to analyze the situation first. THE support would depend on “fundamentally the security situation”, as well as the “possibility of travel and other factors”said a spokesman for the Ministry of Internal Affairs on Wednesday. The main focus would continue to be “the expansion of medical care on site and in the region”.
In principle, however, the federal government sees the proposal positively. It is “an important concern” to support civil society actors in the medical treatment of children in the Gaza range, said a spokesman from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Dobrindt, was a little more explicit on Thursday.
“We must be very careful with the possible measures we are now discussing,” he told the Table Media platform. The federal government is already supporting the population of the Gaza Strip, he stressed. “The priority must be the provision of help on site.” He added that he understands the idea, but the goal should be to help as many people as possible, not just a few.
CDU secretary talks about electoralist idea
Already Serap Güler (CDU), Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, caused indignation. It did not consider the offer of cities as totally altruistic, at least in the case of the two cities of the state of North-Rvestfália Rhine, Düsseldorf and Bona, where there will be local elections in September.
“This idea is good for the election campaign or for earning points, But it doesn’t really help people, ”Güler told Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.
Ines Schwerdtner, leader of the opposition party Die Linke, classified the statement as “petty“. It cannot be” that Germany is one of the few countries of the European Union to be crossed to see people die. “Even a Foreign Ministry spokesman later rejected the statement made by his own secretary.
Fear of a new migratory vacancy
There is something more behind the reluctance of the two ministries, led by CSU and CDU. The two conservative parties fear a new spot of migration, even initially involving only a few dozen children.
Migration was one of the most important topics of the last election campaign, and limiting it was a promise made by both CDU and CSU. Migration is also a question often explored by the Alternative Far-right party to Germany (AFD) to press the government.
This suspicion was confirmed by Alexander Hoffmann, leader of the CSU bench at * Bundestag * (Low Chamber of the German Parliament). In an interview with Bild newspaper, he said that “neighboring Arab states are mainly responsible for the eventual admission of vulnerable groups.” And added the decisive phrase: “A migratory movement to Germany cannot be the answer.”
Palestinians are considered stateless in Germany
Apparently, members of the two parties are particularly concerned with the fact that this would not be limited to the medical treatment of children, but that their families could also come to Germany through family reunification and stay there permanently.
Their return to their homeland would also be difficult because the Palestinians were considered apostride In Germany, since the country does not recognize Palestinian territories as a state.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is part of the government coalition with CDU and CSU, on the other hand, is more open to accepting children from Gaza.
Dirk Wiese, secretary of the SPD bench at Bundestag, said that giving medical treatment to children would be a “sign of humanity.” The prerequisite is a safe trip. “If there are possibilities, if they can be made agreements to provide medical treatment in Germany, I believe we should do it.”
Belit Onay, affiliated with the Green Party and Mayor of Hannover, one of the cities that wishes to welcome Palestinian children, also rejected criticism from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The initiative is supported by a wide network of participants, regardless of party affiliation, Onay told the evangelical press service. In addition, the Germany has already welcomed injured from Ukraine and members of the Yazidi minority who suffered violence in Iraq in the past: “This is a procedure tested and proven. Just want to do it.”
Other European countries already receive children from Gaza
The hesitation of the German government contrasts with initiatives from other European countries. Italy and Spain are already welcoming severely injured children from Gaza for treatment.
The British government has also announced an evacuation operation, but the numbers are low, just over a hundred children. Humanitarian organizations are asking the government in London to act quickly. Children have already died in Gaza due to lengthy bureaucratic processes. The mayor of Hanover, Onay, suggested cooperation with the United Kingdom.
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz of CDU has not yet commented on the offer of German cities.
