Germany has refuted Israeli claims that hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza were flown to its territory, dismissing reports linking the move to a proposal by US President Donald Trump.
The German government clarified that only 19 German nationals and their families had been evacuated from Gaza.
Israel’s Interior Ministry previously announced that a large group of Gaza residents had been transported from Ramon Airport in southern Israel to Germany. The statement suggested that the relocation was part of a broader initiative, but German officials have firmly denied the claim.
The controversy arose after Israeli authorities stated that the group had arrived in Leipzig on Tuesday with the assistance of German diplomats. However, Berlin maintained that no mass transfer of Gazans had taken place and that its evacuation efforts focused solely on German citizens and their relatives.
Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel had recently visited Ramon Airport to observe what was described as a “voluntary departure” process for Palestinians. This follows Israel’s decision to establish a body responsible for facilitating the relocation of Gaza residents to third countries.
The initiative aligns with a past suggestion by Trump, which proposed moving Palestinians out of Gaza to create space for development projects, including what was described as the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The issue remains sensitive, as forced displacement has been widely condemned by international organizations.