MADRID (AP) — A 20-year-old Palestinian woman, identified as Marah Abu Zuhri, has died after being transferred to Italy for medical treatment from the Gaza Strip. Hospital officials at Pisa University Hospital reported that she was admitted late on Wednesday and died on Friday due to a severe respiratory crisis that led to cardiac arrest.
Upon her arrival in Italy, Marah was described as being in a “state of severe physical deterioration.” The hospital emphasized her complex clinical condition, although it did not specify whether she had suffered from malnutrition. Hospital staff had started supportive therapy, but unfortunately, their efforts were in vain.
Marah Abu Zuhri was evacuated as part of a humanitarian mission, arriving in Italy alongside her mother. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that nearly 120 Palestinians, including 31 patients and their families, had been flown to cities such as Rome, Milan, and Pisa on three separate planes. This operation marked Italy's 14th medical evacuation of Palestinians since January 2024 and was noted as the largest one to date.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with the United Nations highlighting that levels of starvation and malnutrition are reaching unprecedented heights since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war. In July alone, nearly 12,000 children under the age of five were reported to be dealing with acute malnutrition, with over 2,500 of them facing severe malnutrition, the most critical level. The World Health Organization has indicated that these numbers are likely to be an undercount.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, disputed claims of starvation in Gaza. He stated that “there is no policy of starvation in Gaza,” asserting that the situation is not as severe as portrayed. U.S. President Donald Trump, responding to Netanyahu's statements, did not fully support them, pointing out images of emaciated individuals and children looking very hungry based on news reports. This reflection indicates a growing concern about the humanitarian crisis in the region.
In recent weeks, Israel has increased the amount of food entering Gaza to nearly triple the levels compared to those observed since late May. This shift came after a prolonged period during which Israel restricted all food, medicine, and essential supplies as a means of pressuring Hamas to release hostages taken during their October 2023 attacks that escalated the conflict. The humanitarian implications of these actions remain critical as aid groups continue to call for more assistance and relief for the affected populations.
