ATHENS

Italian charities sent 50 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the country’s defense minister said on Friday.

As part of the Italian efforts to help Palestinian civilians affected by the war, the aid was collected by the National Catholic Charities Confederation, said Guido Crosetto, according to the state-run ANSA news agency.

The aid has already departed from the northern port of Monfalcone, he added.

“Italy has once again demonstrated that it stands by those who suffer and will continue to do all it can to give hope to those who, like in Gaza, are experiencing very difficult times," Crosetto said.

Qatar late Wednesday announced a three-phase cease-fire agreement evening to end over 15 months of deadly Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, with the cease-fire set to take effect on Sunday.

Nearly 46,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed and more than 110,000 injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.