As part of her visit to Italian cultural institutions and hospitals that have provided support to the people of Gaza, Sapienza welcomed the Palestinian National Authority's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Varsen Aghabekian, who was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The meeting, which took place at the Policlinico Umberto I general hospital, was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani; the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini; Sapienza's Rector, Antonella Polimeni; the Director General of the Policlinico Umberto I, Fabrizio d'Alba, and the deans of the three medical faculties: Domenico Alvaro, Paolo Villari, and Erino Angelo Rendina; the Director of the Maternal and Infant Sciences Department, Alberto Spalice; the Director of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, Loredana Amoroso; Sapienza's Director General, Loredana Segreto; and all the medical staff who care for young patients at the university paediatric ward.

During the visit, it was possible to meet Palestinian children from Gaza who are currently undergoing treatment for cancer and haematological diseases, together with their families. Arabic-speaking cultural mediators were provided by Sapienza to support these families.
To demonstrate the university's ongoing commitment, distance learning courses in English and Arabic will be made available to Palestinian healthcare personnel.

Rector Polimeni presented Minister Aghabekian with a report summarising the initiatives implemented by Sapienza in three main areas: research and teaching; outreach activities (terza missione) and health, cultural activities, and social inclusion. These include research projects funded for Palestinian lecturers and students, scholarships for Palestinian students, the restoration of cultural sites in Palestine, and theatrical activities and concerts for peace. In 2024 and 2025, the governing bodies also unanimously approved motions in support of peace and to express outrage at the military escalation and horror at the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

As these motions show, Sapienza actively supports all humanitarian, civic, secular and religious initiatives that provide practical assistance to Gaza's civilian population. In this spirit, the Rector wishes the Freedom Flotilla bon voyage.

At the same time, Sapienza emphasises the importance of scientific and cultural diplomacy as a means of fostering dialogue and international cooperation for peace.

The Rector echoes the Accademia dei Lincei's call "to recognise the non-negotiable sanctity of the lives of children, women and men also in the Gaza Strip". She also expresses her appreciation and agreement with the stance taken by some Israeli university rectors and the Israeli Academy of Sciences and Humanities in favour of decisive and clear initiatives to save lives.

'Since the beginning of the hostilities, Sapienza has chosen to support the civilian population by taking immediate action to build bridges and promote opportunities for interaction and collaboration wherever possible. Sapienza has made financial and human resources available to provide practical assistance, as well as offering spontaneous and obligatory solidarity with those affected by the brutality in Gaza. We have chosen to support those in need through concrete actions. Minister Varsen Aghabekian's visit and her kind words about our hospital staff and the commitment of the entire university community encourage us to continue our efforts. We want to maintain open channels of dialogue, brotherhood, and scientific and cultural diplomacy, and continue to promote a necessary and shared peace in collaboration with civic organisations working on humanitarian initiatives in favour of the people of Gaza".