Interview insights from Markus Söder on citizen funds and air travel verification
In a recent interview on ZDF, Markus Söder, CSU party chairman and Bavarian Minister-President, made a claim about Hamas blocking access to aid deliveries in Gaza. However, the evidence supporting this claim is poor.
The Israeli government had justified the use of a controversial private aid organization, GHF, by alleging systematic theft of UN humanitarian aid by Hamas. Yet, an internal analysis by the US government, specifically the US aid agency USAID, found no evidence to support this claim.
The Federal Government Press and Information Office reported large quantities of humanitarian aid being withheld by Hamas and criminal organizations in Gaza. The Israeli government, in response, claimed that Israel is responsible for ensuring supplies in the Gaza Strip. They pointed to a "humanitarian zone" equipped with field hospitals, water pipelines, and desalination plants in a coastal area in southern Gaza.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Söder's claim about Hamas preventing access to humanitarian aid in Gaza remains unsubstantiated. Neither Söder nor the CSU press office responded to requests for clarification about the claim.
Meanwhile, in a different context, the CSU had a successful election in Bavaria, winning approximately 3.27 million first votes (41.2%) and approximately 2.96 million second votes (37.2%). However, this was not unique in the 2025 Bundestag election as the AfD secured higher second vote shares in Saxony and Thuringia. On the federal level, the CSU's results translate to 6.6% (first votes) and 6.0% (second votes). In a federal faction alliance with the CDU, the Union parties together secured 28.6% of the second votes, the highest share, but this is the second-worst Union election result since 1949.
In Germany, over 700,000 Ukrainian women and men are receiving citizen's allowance, according to the current Migration Monitor report by the Federal Employment Agency. A study published by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) of the Federal Employment Agency found no evidence to support Söder's claim that the citizen's allowance keeps Ukrainians from working. Instead, the study highlighted childcare, social networks, and good English skills as central factors in integrating Ukrainians into the job market.
Germany is not the only country to secure support for Ukrainian women and men with a special regulation. In almost all EU countries, Ukrainian refugees have a special protected status, which in some cases facilitates access to the labor market. Germany has good prospects of further increasing the employment rate among Ukrainian refugees with long-term integration strategies, according to the IAB study.
In conclusion, while the situation in Gaza remains complex, the evidence for Söder's claim about Hamas blocking access to aid deliveries is poor. Meanwhile, Germany continues to support Ukrainian refugees, aiming for long-term integration and employment.
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