Israel and Gaza's children will also be admitted to Dusseldorf
In a remarkable show of solidarity, the cities of Hannover and Düsseldorf have announced their intention to take in up to 20 vulnerable and traumatized children from the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel.
Lord Mayor Belit Onay of Hannover revealed that the city currently has up to 20 foster care places available, ready to provide a safe and nurturing environment for these children. Her counterpart in Düsseldorf, Stephan Keller (CDU), has also pledged to adopt a similar humanitarian gesture, following initial talks that have already taken place in Düsseldorf. These discussions have involved the Jewish Community and the circle of Düsseldorf Muslims.
The decision to offer aid comes in response to the escalating conflict in the region. Both cities are acting across party lines in their efforts to provide a lifeline to those most in need.
While the details of the initiative are still being worked out, Hannover is considering an expansion of its capacity, potentially through host or foster families. Düsseldorf, too, is yet to clarify the scope of its help.
The cities' administrations are set to explore the feasibility of their project in the coming week, taking into account factors such as the security situation, permission to leave Gaza, federal government support regarding immigration, child selection, and medical logistics.
As of early August 2025, formal requests from German municipalities, including Düsseldorf, have not yet been submitted to the federal Interior Ministry, which is reviewing the feasibility of such projects. The German government has emphasised the priority of providing immediate assistance within the affected region but remains open to discussing evacuation and treatment measures for vulnerable children under the right circumstances.
No specific timeline has been publicly detailed for the initiative, as much depends on improving conditions on the ground and political coordination at the federal level. The cities' leaders remain hopeful that their humanitarian efforts will make a meaningful difference in the lives of these children.
[1] Source: Local News Outlet A [3] Source: National News Outlet B
The decision to offer aid by Hannover and Dusseldorf, in response to the escalating war-and-conflicts in the Gaza and Israel region, is a political move that transcends party lines. Both cities are actively engaging in discussions about general-news topics, such as the feasibility of their humanitarian project, including factors like security, immigration, child selection, and medical logistics. These efforts aim to provide a lifeline to vulnerable children in need.
