Israel-Hebrew websites and accounts on Facebook circulated information claiming that hundreds of Gaza residents were flown to the German city of Leipzig on a special flight accompanied by German diplomats.
Several media outlets, including Al Arabiya, reported that the Interior Ministry of Israel announced the air transfer of hundreds of Gaza residents from Ramon Airport in southern Israel to Germany. Al Jazeera Mubasher also reported that the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority stated that a special flight transported dozens of Gaza residents to Leipzig, Germany.
Upon reviewing the website of the Population and Immigration Authority in Israel, it stated that “dozens of Gaza residents were transferred to the city of Leipzig in Germany.” Kashif was unable to confirm whether the site had modified the number from hundreds to dozens.
Kashif fact-checked the claim and found it to be inaccurate. It contacted the German Representative Office in Ramallah, which confirmed that 33 individuals were transferred from the Gaza Strip—19 of whom hold German citizenship, along with their Palestinian family members. The office explained that they were transferred through the Kerem Shalom crossing on 1/4/2025.
The German Representative Office noted that “since the beginning of the war, German authorities have assisted approximately 700 individuals (German nationals and their immediate family members—i.e., spouses and minor children) in leaving Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.”
In March 2025, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would establish a new authority for the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from Gaza, following a plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at relocating Gaza’s population.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that what Israel refers to as “voluntary departure” lacks any legal basis, emphasizing that “forced displacement under bombing and denial of aid constitutes a crime under international law.” Similarly, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the move.
| Sources of claim | Sources of verification |
| srugim rotter רד סי אילת-אתר חדשות באילת והערבה חדשות רד סי אילת מדינה אחת לישראל-One State for Israel | مكتب الممثلية الألمانية في رام الله سكاي نيوز عربية الشرق الأوسط |