A 20-year-old Palestinian woman, Marah Abu Zuhri, has died in Italy after being transferred from Gaza for medical treatment, as reported by Pisa University Hospital. She arrived late Wednesday with severe health complications and unfortunately succumbed to a respiratory crisis leading to cardiac arrest just two days later.
The hospital characterised her condition as complicated and compromised, reflecting the dire medical situations faced by many patients evacuated from Gaza during the ongoing conflict. She travelled to Italy alongside her mother as part of a humanitarian initiative, which has facilitated the evacuation of nearly 120 Palestinians, including 31 patients and their families, to cities such as Rome and Milan.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that this evacuation was the largest yet, marking the 14th such mission since early 2024. While the hospital did not confirm specifics about malnutrition, they noted her critical physical state upon arrival. The Tuscan region’s leader, Eugenio Giani, conveyed his condolences following her passing.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached alarming levels, as indicated by recent statistics from the United Nations, revealing acute malnutrition among children under five at its highest since the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated. Reports cited over 12,000 cases of acute malnutrition, with a significant portion classified as severe. The World Health Organisation believes these figures might underrepresent the true extent of the crisis.
Despite these dire circumstances, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that there is no starvation situation in Gaza, prompting criticism and concern from various global leaders, including US President Donald Trump, who acknowledged the stark visual evidence of malnutrition and suffering. In response to the crisis, Israel has increased food supplies to Gaza, but this follows a two-and-a-half-month period during which access was severely restricted in an effort to pressure Hamas to release hostages captured during the conflict.
The condition of Abu Zuhri serves as a stark reminder of the humanitarian challenges faced by individuals in conflict zones and the urgent need for comprehensive relief efforts.