German aid organizations have accused the government of blocking much-needed medical help for children severely wounded by Israeli bombing in Gaza, Anadolu Agency reports.

Around 40 medical facilities agreed to treat children from Gaza in Germany and cover the costs, but the foreign and interior ministries have hindered their efforts citing alleged security concerns, according to public broadcaster ARD.

Aid organisations such as the Cologne-based Refugees Foundation, together with other NGOs and the German Society for Plastic Surgery, had committed to medical help for these children for months. They organised donations for flights, visa applications and the full reimbursement of hospital expenses.

But ultimately the campaign was stopped temporarily because the ministries did not support the entry of one accompanying adult per child. German government circles were quoted as saying that the mother or father of the wounded Gazan children accompanying them for medical treatment could pose a potential security risk as they may support or sympathise with Hamas.

Reacting to this government position, Daniela Neuendorf from the Refugees Foundation said: “It is simply inexplicable to me why other countries can manage this and why we in Germany capitulate to somehow bring in 20 children with accompanying persons for three months.”