A 20-year-old Palestinian woman flown from Gaza to Italy for urgent medical care has died, the University Hospital of Pisa confirmed.
The woman, identified by Italian media as Marah Abu Zuhri, arrived overnight between Wednesday and Thursday on a humanitarian flight organised by the Italian government. She was accompanied by her mother.
Doctors described her condition as “very complex,” with severe wasting caused by extreme weight and muscle loss. After undergoing tests and receiving treatment, she suffered a sudden respiratory crisis and cardiac arrest on Friday.
This week, three Italian Air Force flights landed in Rome, Miland and Pisa. The Palestinian woman arrived on one of those flights. All the patients, many of them children, were suffering from congenital diseases, war wounds or amputations, according to the foreign ministry.
Since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas, more than 180 children and young people from Gaza have been treated in Italy.
The president of Tuscany, Eugenio Giani, offered his condolences to Abu Zuhri’s family.
Although the hospital did not provide details on her illness, Italian news agencies reported she was suffering from severe malnutrition. International organisations, including the UN, have warned of the risk of famine in Gaza.
Italy against Gaza occupation
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reiterated Italy’s position on the conflict on Friday. Speaking to Quotidiano Nazionale, he said Italy is “absolutely against” Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza, stressing it would undermine a two-state solution, which he described as “the only possible solution for peace.”
Tajani described the situation in Gaza as “carnage”. He also called for journalists to be allowed access to report independently. He added that Italy supports recognition of Palestine through the creation of a state, backed by a UN-led Arab mission, and said Rome was ready to send troops. Tajani confirmed that the Palestinian foreign minister will visit Rome on 1 September.
