City of Leipzig aims to accept children from Gaza and Israel
In a humanitarian endeavour, several German cities – including Leipzig, Hanover, Düsseldorf, Bonn, and Kiel – have expressed their readiness to accommodate children in need from Gaza and Israel. However, the federal government has yet to fully commit to these proposals, with conditions surrounding the security situation, feasibility of children leaving Gaza, and other logistical factors [1][3].
The Interior Ministry is currently examining the feasibility of these initiatives, emphasising that support depends strongly on the security conditions and the possibility of safe departure from Gaza [1][3]. City mayors have requested federal assistance in entry procedures, child selection, and medical coordination, but the federal government has expressed reservations about the practicality of the projects, citing concerns over security and administrative challenges [2][3].
Deputy Foreign Minister Serap Güler stated that the government prefers to focus on aiding children directly in the region rather than relocating them to Germany, highlighting concerns that the proposal could be politically motivated rather than immediately helpful to the children themselves [2]. As of early August 2025, no comprehensive framework for accommodating the children in Leipzig and other cities has been finalized or publicly announced.
While the CDU faction in the Leipzig city council has set conditions for their support – requiring a statement that Hamas, funded by the terror regime in Tehran, is responsible for the humanitarian catastrophe and the suffering of the children, and a declaration in support of Israel's sovereignty and its right to exist – the Free fraction demands that the children receive a permanent right to stay [1][2].
The letter to the Interior Minister and Foreign Minister emphasises the urgent need for help due to the "humanitarian catastrophe" affecting children. Leipzig, along with the aforementioned cities, maintains the necessary infrastructure, medical, psychological, and other support options to accommodate these children.
This initiative recalls the alliance "Cities of Safe Havens," which several hundred German municipalities have joined since 2019. In Leipzig, the AfD and CDU had submitted motions in February calling for the city to withdraw from the alliance, but the majority in the city council voted against the motions.
Notably, other European countries like Italy, Spain, and the UK have already admitted seriously injured children from Gaza for medical treatment, but Germany remains more hesitant [3].
In summary, German cities have offered to help, but federal government approval is conditional on the security and logistical feasibility. Medical aid on site has priority, and bringing children from the region to Germany depends on whether a safe exit is possible.
City mayors have requested political support in addressings issues like entry procedures, child selection, and medical coordination, given the ongoing war-and-conflicts and subsequent migration from Gaza and Israel. The general news regarding this issue highlights the debate around whether to prioritize mainstream politics or immediate humanitarian aid in the region, with some arguing for migration and others advocating for on-site assistance.
