Gazan Woman Evacuated to Italy Dies in Hospital

A 20-year-old Palestinian woman from Gaza, identified by Italian media as Marah Abu Zuhri, died in Pisa University Hospital on Friday, less than 48 hours after being evacuated to Italy for medical treatment.

Abu Zuhri arrived in Italy on Wednesday night as part of a humanitarian mission organized by the Italian government, which has facilitated the evacuation of nearly 120 Palestinians, including 31 patients and their families, to Rome, Milan, and Pisa.

Upon arrival, she was immediately admitted to the hospital in a "state of severe physical deterioration," according to the hospital's statement. Despite receiving supportive therapy, she suffered a respiratory crisis followed by cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead on Friday.

Eugenio Giani, leader of the Tuscan region, expressed his condolences for the woman's death.

The United Nations has reported that nearly 12,000 children under five in Gaza were found to have acute malnutrition in July, including more than 2,500 with severe malnutrition.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that "there is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza."

Italy has conducted 14 medical evacuations of Palestinians since January 2024, with the recent operation being the largest to date.