Italy to send hospital ship close to Gaza coast

New Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto arrives for the first cabinet meeting of the new Italian government led by Giorgia Melonoi at Chigi Palace’s government office in Rome, Italy, on October 23, 2022 [Isabella Bonotto – Anadolu Agency]

Italy will send a hospital ship close to the coast of Gaza to help treat victims of the Israel-Palestine conflict, Italian Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

The ship is leaving on Wednesday from the western Italian port of Civitavecchia with 170 staff, including 30 people trained for medical emergencies, the Minister said, adding that Italy was also working to send a field hospital to Gaza.

Crosetto suggested that two Italian naval vessels already sent to the region were likely to remain in place.

“We will evaluate whether to keep them in the area but I prefer to keep three ships there and not to have any regrets,” Crosetto told reporters.

Foreign ministers from the G7, which includes Italy, called on Wednesday for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Palestine war to allow in aid and help the release of hostages.

READ: Dozens of Palestinians killed in Israeli air strike on UN school in Gaza

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