War in the Gaza Strip
Germany wants to help – but the situation escalates
Updated on July 20, 2025 – 7:21 p.m.Reading time: 3 min.
The federal government speaks of reconstruction – but the situation continues to escalate on site: Israel expands the attacks and civilians die in search of help.
Germany has promised support for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan said during a visit to Egypt that Germany would contribute to the stabilization of the region after an end of the war. “Germany will contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza,” said the SPD politician. The help should benefit, among other things, the water and energy supply and the construction of accommodations. However, prerequisites are a safe humanitarian location and a permanent ceasefire.
In fact, neither ceasefire nor reconstruction are in sight. On the contrary: the location in the Gaza Strip has recently moved further. The Israeli army expands its attacks in the center and north of the area.
According to the Israeli army, large parts of the city of Gaza and the northern border area with Israel were declared a combat zone. Among other things, the district of the old town, Jabalija and Al-Saitun as well as the towns of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanun are affected. The military said that the armed forces would proceed “with extreme violence”. Palestinians were called up again for fleeing. Most of them had been driven out at least once since the beginning of the war.
The military is also preparing for new missions in the center of the Gaza Strip. In the city of Deir al-Balah, army spokesman Avichay Adraee called the population to escape to the al-Mawasi coastal region. This had previously been declared the “humanitarian zone” by Israel. Observers also see the new operations as a possible attempt to persuade Hamas to make concessions in the ongoing negotiations on a ceasefire.
The situation for the civilian population is particularly dramatic. According to Palestinian authorities, 67 people were killed in the north of the Gaza Strip when they were waiting for humanitarian aid. The information cannot be checked independently. Israel’s army said that they had given warning shots against a “immediate threat”. An examination is running.
Israel and the Gaza Humanitrian Foundation (GHF) Foundation supported by the USA, on the other hand, accuse Hamas of specifically stirring unrest among those seeking help. The organization had also warned not to find out at the collection points during the night and morning hours.
The federal government criticizes the GHF. According to the Federal Foreign Office, the new distribution mechanism does not reach the civilian population to a sufficient degree and does not operate in accordance with humanitarian principles. Since the end of May, the GHF has distributed food in a few central points in the Gaza Strip. Previously, the United Nations had operated around 400 distribution stations – however, these hardly work because Israel almost completely blocks its delivery. There are no state funds from Germany to GHF, emphasizes the Federal Foreign Office. It is campaigned for incidents with dead at distribution points to be comprehensively informed.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are parallel to the fighting. The United States hopes for an agreement that provides for the release of ten hostages and a 60-day ceasefire. According to Donald Trump, an agreement could soon come. According to Israeli information, 49 hostages are currently being recorded in the Gaza Strip, at least 27 of them are dead.
