Funeral services were held on Wednesday in Pontasserchio, Italy, for 19-year-old Palestinian woman Marah Abu Zuhri, who passed away shortly after being evacuated from Gaza last week. Her death has drawn attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory.
Zuhri’s coffin, draped in a Palestinian flag and keffiyeh, was accompanied by several hundred mourners. The service was marked by chants of “Free Palestine” and speeches from local authorities expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemning the situation in Gaza.
Italian doctors treating Zuhri reported that she arrived in Italy in a severely weakened state. Although Israel had cited leukemia as her condition, initial tests in Pisa found no evidence of the disease, instead revealing profound wasting and a misdiagnosed or undiagnosed condition. Despite medical interventions, Zuhri suffered a sudden respiratory crisis and cardiac arrest, passing away on August 15.
Mayor Matteo Cecchelli described the service as a way to honor Zuhri’s life and raise awareness about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. “Every day in Gaza, people are dying in the deafening silence of world governments,” he said, urging public attention to the crisis.
Zuhri was part of an Italian humanitarian airlift that evacuated 31 sick or injured Palestinians, among nearly 1,000 people brought to Italy since the war began. The U.N. and local health authorities report that Gaza’s health system has been severely affected, with thousands of patients urgently needing treatment outside the territory.
Her mother, Nabeela Abu Zuhri, who accompanied her daughter to Italy, asked for prayers for Palestinians and expressed gratitude to Italian doctors for their efforts. Religious leaders also highlighted severe food shortages and malnutrition in Gaza, where the U.N. reports that nearly 12,000 children under five suffered from acute malnutrition in July.
The tragic death of Marah Abu Zuhri has not only brought focus to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza but also serves as a reminder of the urgent need for medical aid and global attention to the region.
