Overview
- Hannover’s proposal to admit and treat up to 20 injured or sick children was rejected by the Federal Interior Ministry, according to a letter reported by dpa.
- The ministry described the situation in the Gaza Strip as very unclear and not predictable and noted that exit permissions involve Israeli and Egyptian authorities.
- Officials cited extensive requirements including identity checks, vetting of accompanying relatives, security risk assessments, cost responsibilities, and realistic return options.
- Hannover’s mayor Belit Onay and regional president Steffen Krach criticized the refusal and appealed for a reversal, with Krach noting that more than 16,000 people in Gaza need treatment abroad.
- Other cities including Bremen, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Bonn, Frankfurt, and Kiel, along with evangelical churches in Lower Saxony, joined the initiative, which cannot proceed without federal cooperation.