A group of Palestinian children suffering from cancer is set to arrive this evening at Ciampino Airport to receive medical treatment in Italy, as part of the Italian Government’s humanitarian assistance programmes for the Palestinian population. From Rome, Milan, and Pisa, and under the coordination of the Italian Foreign Ministry’s Crisis Unit, the children will then be transferred to their assigned hospitals via ambulances provided by the Civil Protection Department.
The request for evacuation from Gaza and the hope for Italy to welcome the sick children were also put forward by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and by don Aldo Buonaiuto (of The Pope John XXIII Community Association) during Minister Tajani’s visit to Israel on 6 February.
The cooperation of the Israeli authorities was crucial in facilitating the evacuation of the children and their families to Egypt. The Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv, in coordination with the Italian Foreign Ministry’s Crisis Unit and the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem, maintained constant contact with COGAT (the Israeli military unit responsible for coordinating government activities in the Palestinian Territories) to ensure the safe passage of the 14 young patients and their companions out of Gaza for treatment in Italy.
This initiative is part of the broader “Food for Gaza” programme, through which Italy has been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts since the early stages of the Middle East crisis. During the latest Food for Gaza task force meeting, chaired at the Farnesina on 22 January by Minister Tajani, it was decided to expand the scope of the initiative to include the involvement of Italian university hospitals, starting with the healthcare sector. A particular priority was given to medical evacuations of sick children from Gaza, along with their families, to receive treatment in Italy.
During Tajani’s latest visit to Israel on 6 February, for the arrival at Ashdod Port of 15 trucks delivering aid for distribution in Gaza—alongside an additional 15 tonnes of humanitarian supplies—the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs was accompanied by Minister Annamaria Bernini and a medical team to explore further healthcare cooperation.
Italy remains committed to expanding its focus towards the reconstruction of Gaza, starting with the healthcare sector, and is exploring additional collaboration opportunities with key medical institutions in the country.
