The German federal government appears unable to substantiate claims made by Chief of Staff to the Chancellor, Thorsten Frei, regarding the diversion of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. Frei had publicly stated that “50 to 90 percent or more” of aid deliveries were being seized by terrorists, Hamas, or organized crime.
In a response to a parliamentary inquiry from the Green party – details of which were reported by “Der Spiegel” – the Foreign Office indicated that its assessment relied on information gathered from the United Nations, humanitarian organizations and intelligence assessments. According to the report, the figures initially cited by Frei in a television interview originated with the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), but were based solely on incidents occurring over a few days in early July.
Luise Amtsberg, a Green party member of the German parliament, criticized the assertion that a majority of those seeking scarce aid were terrorists or criminals, stating there was no evidence to support such a claim. She argued that a chief of staff should provide a factual assessment of the on-the-ground situation. Amtsberg called on the Chancellor’s Office to increase pressure on the Israeli government, rather than contributing to the discrediting of aid organizations operating in Gaza, which she described as performing “very dangerous work”.
