Gaza, Tajani: 'Italia in the Board of Peace because it is the only proposal for peace'

An Egyptian Red Crescent source pointed out that anotherhundreds of Palestinians, mostly treated in Egyptian hospitals and their escorts, are waiting to be allowed to return to the Gaza Strip, while Israel limits the number of departures from Egypt to Gaza to a maximum of about 50 people per day, unless the border is closed. For these people, the Egyptian Red Crescent, the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the North Sinai governorate are providing assistance, offering accommodation in dedicated housing units and hot meals.

Meanwhile, a senior Hamas intelligence commander was killed in an Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip yesterday. This was reported by the IDF, the Israeli Defence Forces. He was Muhammed Abu Shaleh, intelligence officer of the Khan Younis Brigade of Hamas.

Shaleh was allegedly involved in the planning of the 7 October 2023 offensive and - more recently - "acted in violation of the ceasefire agreement to restore the organisation's capabilities in the Gaza Strip and planned to carry out terrorist attacks against IDF troops and the State of Israel," the Israeli army said in a statement.

People in Gaza, however, continue to die. A Palestinian was killed in an Israeli airstrike against an assemblage in eastern Gaza City, according to reports by the Qatar-based Al Jazeera.

The attack took place in the neighbourhood of Tuffah, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

"The hardest phase has passed, but that doesn't mean we are well. The aftermath is very hard". This is the testimony of Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, gathered by Pro Terra Sancta, who raises the alarm over the humanitarian crisis in the Strip. Despite the reduction in the most intense bombardments, the situation remains critical: gunfire and explosions continue to be heard, while the population still lacks drinking water, electricity, medicines and liquidity. Even where some goods have returned to the markets, prices remain out of reach for most families.

"In many cases the problem is not just finding food, water or medicine, but being able to afford them," explains Father Romanelli. "Everything is needed: spiritual, moral, existential and material support".

In recent months, the number of displaced people hosted in the parish has decreased - today just over a hundred compared to the 500-700 people welcomed during the hardest moments of the conflict - and the schools have resumed welcoming more pupils, Christians and Muslims. But the population continues to live in a condition of extreme emergency, marked by widespread trauma, precariousness and absence of prospects.

Particularly dramaticis the situation of the Christian community: before the war there were 1,017 Christians in Gaza; today, according to the parish priest's testimony, there are 569. In addition, sixty people have died since the beginning of the conflict: 23 killed directly by shelling or snipers, 23 by lack of care and 14 by illness or old age in a context of health collapse.

In this context, Pro Terra Sancta continues to work alongside the Latin parish in Gaza City, in cooperation with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Caritas and local partners, supporting the distribution of water, flour, medicines, nappies and other essential goods. In the past two months, Pro Terra Sancta has reached over 900 people in the Strip. "The most acute phase of the war may have subsided, but the emergency is far from over," emphasises Pro Terra Sancta.

"Hunger, poverty, trauma and untreated diseases continue to affect thousands of people".

The destruction of Gaza is compounded by the recent tensions with Iran - attacked by the US and Israel - which responds with more missiles.

There is deep resentment among the residents of the West Bank following the deaths, between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, of four women hit by a fragmentation missile fired from Iran while they were in a beauty parlour. The residents, as reported by Al Quds newspaper, complain that their villages and towns have become the scene of indirect clashes but lack the most basic civil protection measures. Residents have criticised the absence of early warning systems capable of alerting them before explosive devices fall, pointing out that the lack of sirens exacerbates the number of casualties due to unpreparedness to deal with emergencies. In most areas of the West Bank, the infrastructure is severely inadequate and residential buildings cannot withstand shrapnel or explosions in the vicinity. Residents also complain about the total absence of public shelters or fortified rooms, which makes civilians directly vulnerable to any military escalation in the area, as the death of the four Palestinian women in Beit Awa, near Hebron, tragically demonstrated.

The women killed in the West Bank were not the first Palestinian victims of Iranian fire during the war. On Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry in Ramallah announced the death of a Palestinian woman who was killed by an Iranian missile while driving in the United Arab Emirates. The Palestinian Authority condemned Tehran's missile launch against the Gulf states, saying that 'the brutal aggression threatens the security and stability of the region'. Hamas did not condemn Iran. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in an official statement: 'On behalf of all of us in Israel, we express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the Palestinian women killed by an Iranian missile last night'.

A pensioner who has spent his life at sea, a teacher, a farmer, a hospitality worker and an engineer. These are some of the people who will be part of the eight-strong crew that will set sail on a 17-metre sailboat from Ancona Sunday 22 March to Sicily to join the other boats making up the second humanitarian mission of the Global Sumud Flotilla, heading for Gaza, in solidarity with the Palestinian population.

The initiative was presented this morning by the Marches Coordination for Palestine at a press conference at the Arco Clementino, in the heart of the Doric port. "We know that Ancona has become the Italian Capital of Culture 2028, we also want to dress up a Mediterranean culture, a culture of peace and a culture of solidarity with all other peoples," said Maria Laura Belloni, activist of the Marche Coordination for Palestine. The place of departure, scheduled for early afternoon but the appointment is for 11 a.m., will be Dock 1 of the port of Ancona, near the Clementine Arch.

In addition to international activists - from Australia to Palestine - from the Globa Sumud Flotilla movement, the singer Murubutu, the rap group Assalti Frontali and local artists will also participate. 'This second mission is in continuity with the first one,' stressed Vittorio Sergi, activist of the Coordination. The aim is to break the siege of Gaza by Israel and bring solidarity to the besieged Palestinian population. The difference is precisely that in this initiative there are more people and more boats. In addition, there are professionals who will be able to contribute to a social reconstruction from below by providing their expertise'.