Italy to Provide Medical Care to 100 Palestinian Children from Gaza

Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced on Wednesday that Italy would provide medical treatment to a hundred Palestinian children from Gaza in its hospitals.

These children will be transported by planes and ships in an operation set to commence in the coming days.

Crosetto revealed that the first batch of 30 children would be flown in from Egypt, where they sought medical assistance after escaping Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

Another 30 children, along with their families, will arrive in Italy by the end of January aboard the military ship "Vulcano," departing from Egypt's Port of El Arish.

The minister did not specify when or how the remaining 40 children would be transported.

In a statement, Crosetto emphasized, "One cannot remain indifferent in the face of such a severe humanitarian crisis."

He added that Italy's initiative is more of a moral duty than a political one.

The statement also outlined that the children's treatment would take place in hospitals located in Bologna, Venice, Genoa, and Rome.

Italy initially supported Israel's war against Hamas, stating that Israel had the right to defend itself following the October 7th attack.

However, Italy refrained from criticizing the Israeli government even as the casualties in Gaza increased.

Crosetto explained that the children's transportation would be organized outside El Arish, which is less than 50 kilometers from the Rafah border crossing with Gaza and has become a hub for international humanitarian aid coordination.