A Palestinian refugee girl will be allowed to stay in Germany after all, local media reported Friday, after footage of Chancellor Angela Merkel reducing her to tears during a debate on immigration became viral on social media.

Germany's Integration Minister Aydan Ozoguz told Der Spiegel that while she isn't familiar with 14-year-old Reem Sahwil's personal situation, she was clearly eligible for a residency permit as she is a "well integrated youth."

"she speaks fluent German and has visibly lived here for a long time," the minister told Der Spiegel, according to AFP.

Merkel faced controversy after a meeting with schoolchildren in the northern city of Rostock, where Reem told her in good German she wanted to study in Germany. It was unpleasant that she could not share the enjoyment of life experienced by her peers because of uncertainty over whether she will be able to stay, she said.

Merkel answered that "politics is sometimes hard" and that Germany wouldn't be able to manage an unchecked influx of Palestinian refugees. The chancellor's subsequent attempt to console Reem when the girl started to cry - described by critics as "heartless" - caused a Twitter storm, with the hashtag #merkelstreichelt, or "Merkel strokes," becoming a number one trending topic in Germany.

However, Sawhil later came to Merkel's defense, describing the chancellor's handling of the situation as "fair enough."

"She listened, and she gave her opinion, and I think that is fair enough," 14-year-old Reem told public broadcaster ARD on Friday.