A KC-767 aircraft of the 14° Stormo of the’Italian Air Force, with 9 Palestinian children in need of care on board, most of them cancer patients, landed on the evening of March 19th in London Heathrow to then continue its journey towards Pisa and Rome. The young patients, accompanied by their families and a medical team, were subsequently transferred to Italian hospital facilities to receive the necessary treatment.
“Behind every mission like this there are stories of suffering, but also of hope,” declared the Secretary of State for Defence, Guido Crosetto. “These children, forced to leave their homeland to receive medical treatment, represent the most vulnerable face of a conflict that spares no one. Italy is not indifferent: we will continue to work to guarantee assistance and protection to those in need. A special thank you goes to all those who made this operation possible: the personnel of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Civil Protection Department.”
Upon arrival at Milan Linate Airport, home to the Airport Command and Air Squad Command/1st Air Region Headquarters, Air Squad General Alberto BIAVATI, Commander of the Air Squad/1st Air Region, emphasised how Italy is capable of teamwork and how, thanks to this mission, “we have brought 9 children here to Italy, where they will be treated. It is a sign of hope and future for the people of Gaza.” The General then continued by highlighting how “air force capability in strategic medical transport plays a crucial role in the management of health emergencies, both in national and international scenarios. This type of transport is essential for the rapid and efficient transfer of patients in crisis situations or in areas that are difficult to access by land.”
This is, in fact, a medical evacuation (MedEvac) activity in which the Air Force is involved in rescue operations, both at home and abroad, for the benefit of the civilian population. This mission is part of a wider humanitarian undertaking that sees Italy at the forefront of assisting the civilian population of Gaza.
Italy This confirms its role as a nation committed to international solidarity, with the aim of offering practical assistance to those most affected by the dramatic consequences of the conflict.
It 14th Wing The Italian Air Force's 14th Wing is based at the “Mario de Bernardi” military airport in Pratica di Mare and is under the command of the Mobility and Support Forces Command (CFMS) in Milan. The Wing conducts air surveillance missions with Gulfstream E-550A CAEW aircraft; radio measurement and tactical transport missions, also for the Department of Civil Protection, with P-180 Avanti I and II aircraft; and aerial refuelling, strategic transport, and biocontainment transport missions with KC-767A aircraft.
