Italian charities sent 50 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to the country’s defence minister, Al Jazeera reports.

As part of Italy’s efforts to help Palestinians affected by the conflict, 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.