Children Flee Gaza, Find Hope in Italy
Humanitarian Flights Bring Wounded Palestinian Minors to Safety
Three humanitarian flights have delivered 17 Palestinian minors, accompanied by 53 family members, to Italy, offering a lifeline to those escaping the devastation in Gaza. The operation, spearheaded by the Italian government, represents a significant effort to provide medical care and a safe haven for children traumatized by conflict.
A Glimpse of Resilience
Among those arriving is Adam, the sole surviving child from a family of ten after a bombing in Khan Younis claimed the lives of his father and siblings. His mother, a pediatrician, expressed a poignant desire for a peaceful future. I don’t feel hatred – said the mother, pediatrician – for Adam I dream of a bombless school in Italy
. The young boy was greeted at Linate airport by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who presented him with a football, learning of his love for the sport from his aunt.
The children are receiving treatment at hospitals across Italy, including Niguarda in Milan, Pope John XXIII in Bergamo, and Regina Margherita in Turin. Adam is being treated for multiple fractures, neurological injuries, and burns. Two other girls, aged 12 and 15, are also receiving care for fractures and internal injuries. Three younger children, including a two-year-old, have been admitted to Regina Margherita in Turin.
Italy Steps Up as a Humanitarian Leader
Italy has emerged as a key player in providing aid to those affected by the conflict, becoming the fourth country globally, and the first in the West, to organize the transfer of patients from Gaza to specialized hospitals. According to the United Nations, over 14,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7th, 2023, with a disproportionate number being children. (UN News)
“I sincerely thank Italy,” said the European Commissioner for the equality, preparation and management of crises, Hadja Lahbib. “It is a gift to these families to bring the smile into the faces of mothers, dads, families tormented by the war. We did a lot like Italy.”
—Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner
Antonio Tajani echoed this sentiment, stating, We did a lot like Italy
. The operation involved three C-130 aircraft from the Italian Air Force and extensive diplomatic efforts.
Hospitals across Italy are participating in the effort, including facilities in Padua, Verona, Florence, Bologna, Modena, and Rome. The children are receiving specialized care for a range of injuries, including fractures, trauma, and rare syndromes like bullosa epidermolisi, often called “butterfly skin.”
The arrival of these children represents a beacon of hope amidst the ongoing crisis, offering them a chance at healing and a future free from the horrors of war. The Italian government has pledged continued support for humanitarian efforts in Gaza and remains committed to providing assistance to those in need.
