Humanity's collective struggle symbol: Italian lawmakers adopt Palestinian colors as a show of unity
Italy's Ongoing Humanitarian Aid Efforts for Palestinians
Italy has been actively involved in providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The country's efforts include food assistance through air drops, medical transfers, and future plans for continued aid and civil society engagement.
In a recent development, the Italian Air Force and Army have begun air drops of food supplies onto Gaza from an airbase in Jordan. Complementary convoys carrying aid have also entered Gaza via land crossings from Jordan. This initiative, known as "Food for Gaza," was organised by the World Food Programme (WFP) and aims to reach over one million Palestinian civilians.
Since March 2024, Italy has been delivering essential supplies to Gaza. Over 200 tonnes of food and 2,000 tonnes of flour, along with medical supplies, have been provided. Furthermore, Italy has facilitated the evacuation and medical transfer of 150 Palestinian children to Italy for treatment.
In terms of financial support, Italy has allocated around 40 million euros for Gaza's humanitarian needs. This includes funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to support hospitals and emergency health activities within the Strip. Italy has also sent over 110 tons of essential supplies since 2024.
The Italian government is pushing for the immediate reopening of Gaza crossings to facilitate aid entry. The WFP has recently distributed 800 tons of flour, aiming to assist over one million people in Gaza.
Italy's involvement extends beyond direct aid deliveries. The country has been providing medical assistance, with Palestinian minors requiring urgent medical care being evacuated to Italian hospitals for treatment. Bilateral cooperation includes police training and security sector support, with Italy engaging in broader development efforts in the West Bank alongside humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Looking ahead, Italy plans to resume activities with Italian civil society organizations in Gaza to strengthen local response capabilities. The country also continues to advocate for an immediate, permanent ceasefire to enable uninterrupted humanitarian aid delivery. Italy opposes Israeli military occupation plans in Gaza, emphasizing the urgency of humanitarian aid and political solutions, including the two-state framework.
In summary, Italy combines direct aid deliveries by air and land, medical assistance, funding, political advocacy, and civil society engagement to support Palestinians amidst ongoing crises. The country's commitment to delivering immediate, concrete aid to the people of Gaza remains unwavering.
[1] Source: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation [2] Source: World Food Programme [3] Source: Italian Chamber of Deputies [4] Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) [5] Source: European Union's Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process (EUSR)
- Turkey's Parliament showed support for Italy's aid efforts in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza, acknowledging Italy's significant contributions that include food assistance, medical transfers, and advocacy for a permanent ceasefire.
- Amidst the complex politics and war-and-conflicts of the Middle East, Italy's general-news headlines often highlight its humanitarian aid to Palestinians, such as the "Food for Gaza" initiative, which aims to reach over a million civilians.
- In a broader regional context, Italy's ongoing humanitarian aid efforts for Palestinians, combined with its political advocacy, position it as a key player in the Middle East, with influences that extend beyond Turkiye's borders.
