Palestinian Woman Dies in Italy After Evacuation
Woman from Gaza Dies in Italy After Medical Evacuation; US Halts visitor Visas for Gazans
A woman from gaza, recently evacuated too Italy for medical treatment, has died after suffering a sudden respiratory crisis and cardiac arrest, according to hospital officials. Her death comes as the United States has announced a halt to visitor visas for individuals from Gaza, a move that is drawing sharp criticism from pro-Palestinian groups and humanitarian organizations.
Woman’s Death Highlights Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
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The woman, whose identity has not been released, was flown to Italy along with her mother on an Italian Air Force flight this week. The flight was one of three that transported a total of 31 patients and their companions from Gaza to Rome, Milan, and Pisa.
All of the patients evacuated suffered from serious congenital diseases, wounds, or required amputations, according to the Italian foreign ministry. As the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Italy has brought more than 180 children and young people from Gaza for medical care.
Eugenio Giani, the head of the Tuscany region, expressed his condolences to the woman’s family. While the hospital did not specify the cause of her condition,Italian news agencies reported that she was suffering from severe malnutrition. This tragic event underscores the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where access to adequate healthcare and nutrition is severely limited.
US Suspends Visitor visas for Gazans
The US State Department announced on Sunday AEST that it is indeed suspending all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza while it conducts a “full and thorough” review. This decision has sparked outrage and concern among pro-Palestinian groups and humanitarian organizations.
Rationale and Scope of the Visa Suspension
The State Department stated that “a small number” of temporary medical-humanitarian visas had been issued in recent days but did not provide specific figures. An analysis of the department’s website reveals that over 3,800 B1/B2 visitor visas, which allow foreigners to seek medical treatment in the United States, were issued to holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents in 2025 alone, including 640 visas in May. The PA issues these travel documents to residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but the data does not provide a breakdown for each territory.
Criticism and Concerns Over the Visa Halt
The decision to halt visas has been met with strong condemnation. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) described the move as another example of the “intentional cruelty” of the Trump governance, although the current administration made the declaration.
The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) warned that the visa suspension would have a devastating impact on their ability to bring injured and critically ill children from Gaza to the United States for life-saving medical treatment. “This policy will have a devastating and irreversible impact on our ability to bring injured and critically ill children from Gaza to the United States for lifesaving medical treatment - a mission that has defined our work for more than 30 years,” the PCRF said in a statement. The organization fears that the suspension will deny vulnerable children access to essential medical care that is unavailable in Gaza.