Italy to station hospital ship off Gaza’s coast

Italy is sending a hospital ship that will be stationed off the coast of Gaza to aid the Palestinian population, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto announced Wednesday.

Crosetto said the mission is a concrete sign of Italy's “closeness to the Palestinian people, distance from the Hamas terrorists.” The ship Vulcano has 170 people on board, including medical and military personnel, and includes operating rooms. It will first head to Cyprus and then as close as possible to the conflict zone to provide emergency medical support, Crosetto said. (AP)