The Italian defense ministry announced on Wednesday, January 24, that one hundred Palestinian children, injured in the conflict-ridden Gaza, will be provided with medical treatment in Italian hospitals.
After enduring over three months of severe Israeli bombardment and conflict in the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza, the healthcare system has nearly disintegrated. The ministry declared the commencement of an initiative to transport 100 Palestinian children and their families from Gaza to Italian hospital facilities.
The initial batch of 30 children is scheduled to be transported in the coming days through an air force airlift connecting Italy and Egypt, as stated in a communication from the ministry.
An additional 30 children will be arriving at the conclusion of the month via the Italian military ship, the “Nave Vulcano.” The ship is slated to depart from Egypt’s port of El Arish, according to the ministry’s announcement.
The children will receive medical care in various Italian cities, such as Rome, Bologna, Florence, and Genoa.
Additionally, the ministry has indicated ongoing discussions with regional countries to establish a military field hospital. Earlier on Wednesday, seven injured Palestinian children were transported to France for medical treatment, marking the second evacuation of this kind to the European country since late December when two other Palestinian children arrived.
The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian militant group Hamas initiated an unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7. As a result, approximately 1,140 people, predominantly civilians, lost their lives, based on an AFP tally derived from official figures.
According to the governing Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip, at least 25,700 Palestinians, with the majority being civilians, have lost their lives in Israeli bombardments and ground offensives. The United Nations issued a warning on Tuesday regarding the imminent threat of famine in the territory.
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