Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Friday that Italy was continuing its efforts to help Palestinian civilians affected by the war between Hamas and Israel with a new consignment of 50 tonnes of humanitarian aid.

He said a ship with the basic necessities collected by the ‘Confederazione Nazionale delle Misericordie d’Italia’ association of Catholic charities had departed from the northern port of Monfalcone.

The ship is on its way to Cyprus and the aid will then be taken to Gaza.

“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.