Gaza evacuee who died in Italian hospital had cancer, Israel says

Following reports that a 20-year-old Palestinian woman from the Gaza Strip had died after arriving at an Italian hospital in a “state of severe physical deterioration,” Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities says the woman had cancer.

The cancer diagnosis had been omitted from reports of her death.

COGAT posts to X a document from Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis that states that Marah Abu Zuhri suffered from leukemia.

“Italian authorities contacted Israel requesting Marah’s evacuation due to her illness, and Israel approved it,” says COGAT, the Defense Ministry body that coordinates humanitarian matters in the Gaza Strip.

Abu Zuhri had been admitted to Pisa University Hospital late Wednesday and died on Friday.

The hospital described her as arriving in a “state of severe physical deterioration,” though Italian media reports — cited by publications including the BBC, the Guardian, and AFP — claimed she was suffering from severe malnutrition.

#TheFacts, which the report did not mention: 20-year-old Marah Zohry suffered from leukemia.

Italian authorities contacted Israel requesting Marah’s evacuation *due to her illness*, and Israel approved it. Her evacuation could have taken place earlier, as Israel had proposed… https://t.co/1xu604EppK pic.twitter.com/iVyaJoMvqm

— COGAT (@cogatonline) August 17, 2025

COGAT says her evacuation to Italy “could have taken place earlier, as Israel had proposed several possible dates for the transfer.”

“Israel facilitates the medical transfer of patients, with a focus on children, and encourages countries around the world to make such requests, while Hamas keeps cynically exploiting them for its twisted agenda,” it adds.

Agencies contributed to this report.