Fifteen sick children from Gaza and their families landed in Italy on Monday evening for treatment at various Italian hospitals.

The medical evacuation is part of a diplomatic effort of the Italian government to provide medical assistance to children who have been either wounded during the war or could not be treated due to the destruction of most hospitals in Gaza.

The young patients are affected by various diseases and traumas and were accompanied by 66 relatives, on board three Italian airforce C-130 planes.

According to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 196 children and 454 family members in total have arrived in Italy as part of the medical evacuation program from Gaza.

The Italian government is also planning to host 72 students in Italy as part of a training program in the coming days.

AP video shot by Paolo Santalucia