A Gazan woman who was evacuated to Italy for medical treatment due to severe emaciation has died in hospital.
The 20-year-old, identified as Marah Abu Zuhri, was transported to Pisa via an overnight flight on Wednesday with her mother, under a scheme established by the Italian government.
The University Hospital of Pisa reported that she suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away on Friday, less than 48 hours after her arrival.
Hospital officials indicated that she had experienced significant weight and muscle loss, while Italian news agencies cited severe malnutrition as a contributing factor.
The United Nations has issued warnings regarding widespread malnutrition in Gaza, with experts supported by the organization stating in a recent report that the “worst-case scenario” of famine is currently unfolding in the region.
Israel has refuted claims of starvation in Gaza, accusing UN agencies of failing to collect and distribute aid at border crossings.
Since the beginning of the conflict, over 180 children and adults have been evacuated to Italy for medical care.
This week, 31 patients and their companions arrived in Rome, Milan, and Pisa, all suffering from serious congenital diseases, wounds, or amputations, according to the Italian foreign ministry.
Meanwhile, British MPs have urged the government to expedite the evacuation of sick and injured children from Gaza to the UK, following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to establish an evacuation scheme.
The Home Office stated its intention to evacuate several hundred children from Gaza “at pace,” emphasizing the need for biometric tests before allowing children and carers entry into the UK.
The Israeli ministry has announced plans to provide Gaza City residents with tents and other essential equipment starting Sunday, prior to relocating them to designated “safe zones.”
This statement comes days after the Israeli government declared its intention to occupy Gaza City. The Zeitoun district, the largest in the city, has since been subjected to several days of intense bombardment.
A spokesperson for the municipality described the situation in Zeitoun as “catastrophic,” citing mass displacement following six days of relentless Israeli air strikes, shelling, and demolition operations.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 36 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday.
The health ministry also reported that 11 more people have died from malnutrition, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths to over 250.
The Israeli military has stated its “commitment to mitigating civilian harm” and has questioned the reliability of the death tolls provided by the Hamas-run ministries.
The Israeli government denies the existence of malnutrition in Gaza, asserting that its forces target terrorists and not civilians, and that Hamas is responsible for the humanitarian crisis.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 60,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict.
UNICEF estimates that 50,000 children have been killed or injured since the conflict in Gaza began two years ago.
Over a dozen individuals displaying signs in support of the proscribed group are being held at a protest in Norwich.
Hundreds of people have gathered outside RAF High Wycombe, demanding an arms embargo.
This follows the Met Police’s arrest of more than 500 people at a demonstration in support of the banned group.
Video footage shows Itamar Ben Gvir telling Marwan Barghouti, the most prominent Palestinian prisoner, “you will not win.”