Italian hospital mourns loss of evacuated Gaza woman in critical condition

Italian hospital mourns loss of evacuated Gaza woman in critical condition

A 20-year-old Palestinian woman named Marah Abu Zuhri sadly passed away in Italy after being transferred from Gaza in a critically deteriorated state. Marah arrived in Italy as part of a humanitarian mission, accompanied by her mother, and was admitted to Pisa University Hospital on Wednesday[1][2][3].

Upon arrival, Marah presented a very complex clinical picture characterized by severe physical deterioration and significant weight loss, described as severe emaciation or malnutrition by Italian media[1][4]. The hospital did not confirm if leukemia, as stated by COGAT (Israeli military's Civil Administration), was the cause, but it was reported that she had this illness alongside her malnutrition[4][5].

Marah's death occurred on a Friday after initial examinations and the beginning of supportive therapy. The transfer was part of a broader humanitarian evacuation effort by Italy which has airlifted over 180 children and young people from Gaza amidst warnings by humanitarian organizations and UN agencies about the growing risk of famine and starvation in Gaza due to ongoing war conditions[1][4].

The current situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire, with reports of worsening humanitarian conditions, including severe malnutrition, starvation, and limited access to medical care as a result of the ongoing conflict and blockade[1][4]. This evacuation effort by Italy represents one of the many attempts to provide critical medical aid to some of the most vulnerable in Gaza amid the crisis[2][3].

The World Health Organization suggests that the numbers of malnourished children might be an undercount, with more than 2,500 children having severe malnutrition, the most dangerous level[6]. Nearly 12,000 children under 5 were found to have acute malnutrition in July, according to the U.N.[7].

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly denied that there is an acute hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, dismissing the notion as a "global campaign of lies"[8][9]. However, the United Nations spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, stated that starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest levels since the Israel-Hamas war began[10].

In the recent past, Israel barred all food, medicine, and other supplies into Gaza for a 2.5-month period, but has since allowed about triple the amount of food into Gaza than what had been entering since late May over the last two weeks[11]. The reason given for the barring of supplies was to pressure Hamas to release hostages taken during its October 2023 attack that launched the war[12].

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed his condolences over the death of the Palestinian woman in Pisa University Hospital, stating that this was the 14th medical evacuation of Palestinians that Italy had conducted since January 2024[3]. Eugenio Giani, leader of the Tuscan region, also expressed his condolences.

References:

1. The Guardian
2. BBC News
3. Reuters
4. Al Jazeera
5. Haaretz
6. World Health Organization
7. United Nations Children's Fund
8. The Jerusalem Post
9. The Times of Israel
10. United Nations
11. Reuters
12. Al Jazeera
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