Italy welcomes 18 Palestinian children

Eighteen Palestinian minors, primarily cancer patients, urgently require medical assistance due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They will be transferred to Italy on two C-130J aircraft—one operated by the Air Force and the other by the Guardia di Finanza—scheduled to take off today.

The MedEvac – Medical Evacuation mission operates under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, which is activated by the World Health Organization. This mission is coordinated by the Civil Protection Department through the CROSS – Remote Centre for Health Rescue Operations in Pistoia. It involves collaboration with various entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health, regional health authorities, the Ministry of Defense, the Joint Operations Headquarters – Covi, the Air Force, the Guardia di Finanza, and the Prefectures responsible for receiving patients and their caregivers. Support from the Italian embassies in Cairo and Tel Aviv, as well as the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem, along with the Egyptian Ministry of Health and the entire National Civil Protection Service, played a vital role in enabling the medical evacuation to occur within just a few days.

Alongside the young patients, health personnel, and volunteers, 29 caregivers and Department officials are on board.

Today, the Air Force aircraft will return to Italy from Eilat-Ramon, Israel, carrying nine patients and 15 caregivers. Meanwhile, the Guardia di Finanza flight will depart tomorrow with another nine patients and 14 caregivers. Patients will be welcomed at Puglia, Campania, Lazio, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Lombardy hospitals.

The operation enhances Italy's humanitarian efforts in support of Gaza's civilian population, having successfully evacuated over 350 Palestinian citizens, including family members of Italian citizens and minors in need of medical assistance.