Palestinian children find healing far from home in Italy

A total of 17 Palestinian children, accompanied by 50 relatives, arrived in Italy to receive medical treatment, Middle East Eye reported via Reuters on June 12th.

Among them were Dr Alaa al-Najjar and her son, Adam Hamdi al-Najjar, whose father and nine siblings died in an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis in May. Adam, who suffered fractures, was welcomed in Milan by Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, and hospitalised at Niguarda Hospital.

The situation in Gaza remains deeply critical for children who continue to live under harsh conditions. On May 26th, Al Jazeera reported, as cited by Maghrebi, that Israeli airstrikes had killed over 50 Palestinians in the enclave.

In Gaza City, three missiles struck the Fahmi al-Jarjawi School, where hundreds of displaced people had sought shelter. The attack killed 36, including many children and women.

Local officials confirmed that a father and his five children were among those killed. In northern Gaza’s Jabalia, an airstrike hit a home and killed 16 members of one family, including two children. Hospitals reported widespread injuries, while rescuers struggled to retrieve bodies from the rubble and extinguish fires.

Earlier on April 9th, Middle East Eye reported that Gaza’s Ministry of Health warned of a worsening health crisis due to severe food and water shortages.

The ministry said at least 60,000 children face life-threatening complications due to malnutrition. Doctors reported rising cases of hunger and dehydration.

Additionally, according to Save the Children, as reported by the Middle East Eye via Al Jazeera on April 7th, Israeli attacks had killed at least 15,000 children. At the time of the report, 1.9 million people were forced from their homes. Reportedly, indiscriminate strikes have made Gaza unsafe for children, civilians, and health workers.

Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye, Reuters, Save the Children, Maghrebi.org