A 20-year-old Palestinian woman named Marah Abu Zuhri died at an Italian hospital on Friday after being evacuated from Gaza on Wednesday due to severe malnutrition. She had been admitted with a complex clinical picture and was in a state of organic wasting, according to the University Hospital of Pisa.
Zuhri’s condition worsened suddenly as she underwent tests and treatment, leading to a respiratory crisis and cardiac arrest. Italian news agencies reported that she suffered from severe malnutrition, which is a major issue in Gaza where one-third of the population goes without food for days.
Over 180 children and young people have been brought to Italy since the war began between Israel and Hamas. The UN World Food Programme warns that half a million Palestinians in Gaza are on the brink of starvation, with thousands needing urgent medical evacuation.
The situation in Gaza has raised concerns among international leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who denied reports of policy-driven starvation. However, even Donald Trump acknowledged the severity of the crisis, describing scenes of malnourishment as “real starvation stuff.”
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported five more deaths due to malnutrition and starvation last week, bringing the total to 227 since October 2023. Thousands of sick children in Gaza require urgent medical evacuation.
As tensions rise in Gaza, thousands of patients are still waiting to be evacuated for treatment outside the territory. A UN official emphasized the need for continued evacuations to save lives, highlighting that malnutrition can exacerbate pre-existing conditions and worsen their situation.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/16/malnourished-palestinian-woman-dies-in-italy-after-gaza-evacuation