• A 20-year-old Palestinian woman, Marah Abu Zuhri, died after being evacuated to Italy for treatment.
• She suffered from severe malnutrition and complex health issues upon arrival.
• Her death amplifies warnings of a humanitarian crisis and potential famine in Gaza.
• Italian foreign ministry reports over 180 patients have been evacuated from Gaza since the war began.
• Israeli military operations continue amid allegations of civilian harm and worsening conditions.

A young Palestinian woman, Marah Abu Zuhri, who was evacuated from Gaza to Italy due to severe malnutrition, has died shortly after her arrival. The 20-year-old arrived in Pisa on an overnight humanitarian flight, but died from cardiac arrest just two days later, having been diagnosed with a “very complex clinical picture” upon admission to the university hospital. Reports indicate she was in a profound state of organic wasting and had undergone supportive therapy before her death, according to South China Morning Post, BBC, Los Angeles Times, and India Times.

The evacuation of Abu Zuhri was part of a broader Italian government initiative that has brought over 180 Gazan children and adults to Italy since the conflict began. Over the week, 31 patients and their companions arrived on humanitarian flights to various Italian cities, suffering from severe health conditions. The evacuations are critical as humanitarian groups warn of an escalating crisis in Gaza, where one-third of the population reportedly endures prolonged periods without food, according to South China Morning Post and Los Angeles Times.

In Gaza, the situation remains precarious, particularly in areas like Zeitoun, where heavy Israeli bombardment has resulted in significant casualties and chronic shortages of food and water. Reports have documented over 250 hunger-related deaths since the onset of the war, with medical professionals indicating that malnutrition is at alarming levels. United Nations officials have reported nearly 12,000 children under five suffering from acute malnutrition, highlighting a deepening humanitarian crisis, as noted by BBC and India Times.

Israeli authorities, however, maintain that there is no hunger crisis in Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming that accusations of starvation are part of a “global campaign of lies.” Israeli operations have intensified in residential areas, sparking international concern over civilian safety and escalating tensions as humanitarian conditions worsen, in line with reports from South China Morning Post and BBC.