BERLIN

The German government on Monday reacted hesitantly to plans by the cities of Hanover and Dusseldorf to take in traumatized children from the war-stricken Gaza Strip.

"The feasibility of such initiatives depends crucially on the security situation, the possibility of leaving the country, and further factors," said an Interior Ministry spokesman Lars Harmsen at a press briefing.

“Concrete projects are currently being developed with the responsible partners. The main focus is on expanding medical assistance locally and regionally,” he added.

Hanover and Dusseldorf announced last week that they wanted to take in particularly vulnerable or traumatized children from the Gaza Strip and Israel.

For its part, Hanover said it was ready to host up to 20 sick children.

However, this would require political support from the federal government for entry procedures, selection, and medical coordination.

According to Harmsen, there has been “no request” from any German city to take in the children from the war-torn enclave.

Earlier in the day, Chancellery Chief of Staff Thorsten Frei said it was important, first and foremost, to help on the ground.

The key is to help as many people as possible, he told the private broadcaster RTL/n-tv.

“And that's why I would always be cautious about the question of the extent to which one can fly abroad. That would always only concern individual people, and many other questions would have to be clarified," he added.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Sunday that Israel’s de facto blockade of Gaza is causing famine and leading to civilian deaths.

“We have long observed that Israel’s de facto blockade of the Gaza Strip is causing famine, leading to people dying, suffering, and being left without water,” Wadephul told the German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, following his recent visit to Israel and Palestine.

Wadephul said he delivered a clear message during meetings with Israeli officials that the humanitarian situation in Gaza must “fundamentally change.”

“I hope that message has been heard. I have the impression that it has,” he said.

The minister warned that Israel risked isolating itself amid growing global concern over its conduct in Gaza.