A young Palestinian woman from Gaza, Marah Abu Zuhri, 20, has died in an Italian hospital after being airlifted in a critically weakened state to receive medical care. Abu Zuhri, who arrived in Pisa on a humanitarian flight organised by the Italian government, was suffering from severe malnutrition and muscle wasting, conditions caused by prolonged deprivation in the besieged Gaza Strip. Despite emergency treatment, she succumbed to a sudden respiratory crisis and cardiac arrest shortly after beginning her care.

Abu Zuhri travelled with her mother on one of several Italian Air Force flights this week, which transported 31 patients and their families to hospitals in Pisa, Rome, and Milan. Italian authorities confirmed that all patients were in serious condition, including those with congenital illnesses, injuries, or amputations. Since Israel’s offensive on 7 October 2023, more than 180 children and young people from Gaza have been evacuated to Italy for urgent medical attention, reflecting the ongoing humanitarian toll of the blockade and conflict.

Humanitarian organisations and UN agencies have repeatedly warned of the devastating impact of deliberate deprivation in Gaza, which continues to claim lives through starvation and lack of access to essential medical care. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 251 people, including 108 children, have died from malnutrition and the effects of prolonged deprivation. Abu Zuhri’s death serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the blockade and the urgent need for international intervention to protect vulnerable civilians.