In statements reported by Vatican News, Onesti highlighted that the children “suffered from previous pathologies” and explained that given the impossibility of treating them in Gaza, “where their hospital no longer exists, we decided to bring them here.”
“Unfortunately, at the moment there are few, there are many more. Of course for them now it is a hope, although unfortunately it is just a drop compared to the big problem that exists. We feel the need to take care of them, with a feeling of closeness regardless of religion or other factors, because this is life, and we are always for life,” he stated.
Thus, Italy has become the first European country to launch a rescue operation for the victims of the war that broke out on October 7, 2023, with the surprise attack by Hamas to Israeli territory.