The IDF pushed back against BBC allegations that a young Gazan woman died of starvation, clarifying she had long suffered from leukemia and was evacuated for treatment in Italy with Israel’s approval.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a strong rebuttal to reports, including one by the BBC, claiming that 20-year-old Marah Abu Zohry — a Palestinian woman evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment — died of malnutrition.
According to The Guardian, Abu Zohry arrived in Pisa, Italy on Wednesday aboard a humanitarian flight organized by the Italian government, along with 30 other critically ill patients. She underwent testing and began treatment but tragically died on Friday after suffering sudden respiratory and cardiac failure. Italian outlets cited “severe malnutrition” as a factor in her condition.
The IDF’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), however, set the record straight on X (Twitter):
“The facts, which the report did not mention: 20-year-old Marah Zohry suffered from leukemia. Italian authorities contacted Israel requesting her evacuation due to her illness, and Israel approved it. Her evacuation could have taken place earlier, as Israel had proposed several possible dates for the transfer.”
COGAT stressed that Israel routinely facilitates medical transfers, particularly for children, and encourages other nations to submit humanitarian requests — while condemning Hamas for “cynically exploiting such cases for its twisted agenda.”
The rebuttal highlights ongoing battles not only on the ground but also in the information war, where narratives about Gaza’s humanitarian situation remain fiercely contested.
