Cancer patients in the Gaza Strip face very cruel health conditions, in light of the strict Israeli closure of the crossings and preventing their travel to receive treatment outside the Strip, which has been subjected to group genocide for nearly two years, which exacerbated their deterioration and put them in front of the dangers of slow death.
The suffering of patients is exacerbated by the acute shortage of medicines and medical supplies and the suspension of intravenous chemotherapy since the end of last May, which has doubled the risk of developing serious health complications.
In a video clip published by the Ministry of Health in Gaza, a Palestinian doctor and patients with leukemia appealed to the international community and humanitarian organizations to intervene urgently to evacuate them outside the sector to receive treatment and save their lives.
The Ministry of Health said, at the end of last May, that 11,000 cancer patients in Gaza without appropriate treatment or health care, while 64 percent of cancer drugs were exhausted from their stores.
Since Israel took control of the Rafah crossing in the south on May 7, 2024, in conjunction with the start of a ground military operation in Rafah, the travel and wounded travel movement has prevented treatment, with the exception of limited numbers that are evacuated through the World Health Organization.
According to the data of the Ministry of Health, 25 thousand patients and wounded need treatment abroad, of whom 17 thousand have completed medical transfers procedures and are waiting for Israel to allow them to leave.
According to previous statements by the medical director of the Gaza Cancer Center, Mohamed Abu Nada, for Anatolia, he died since October 7, 2023 until June, 1500 cancer patients as a result of not receiving appropriate treatment, at the rate of two deaths daily.
Quickly evacuation appeals
A blood diseases specialist at the Ministry of Health, Saleh Sheikh Eid, appealed through the video international institutions to move to evacuate cancer patients, warning of serious complications in the event of delayed treatment.
Sheikh Eid also indicated that some patients have obtained remittances for treatment abroad, but the Israeli closure prevents them from traveling, including the patient Ahmed Issa, who has had leukemia for 4 months, who has appealed to international authorities to quickly evoke treatment.
In turn, the father of the patient, Abd al -Rahman al -Naji, said that his son had a treatment for treatment for a whole year without being able to leave due to the Israeli closure.
Al -Naji explained that his son suffered the disease 3 years ago and recovered after receiving the necessary treatment, before returning to him more violently.
Cluster targeting for the health sector
Since the start of the genocide on October 7, 2023, Israel has deliberately targeted the health sector, as it bombed, destroyed or removed 38 hospitals, 96 health care centers and 197 ambulances, according to data of the government media office in Gaza.
This included the targeting of the Gaza Center for the only cancer in the Turkish -Palestinian Friendship Hospital, which was out of service at the end of 2023, to move the services to the European Gaza Hospital, before it in turn stopped working on May 15.
As a result, Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis has become the only party to serve chemical doses, but the lack of medicines and supplies has increased the risk of health conditions.
This targeting comes in light of a strict Israeli siege since last March 2, which prevents the entry of medical, relief and food aid except in very scarce quantities, which doubled the collapse of the health system and the suffering of patients.
Parallel to this, pressure on medical services increases with the outbreak of infectious diseases as a result of forced displacement, as the Gaza government recorded more than two million people with infectious diseases and 71 thousand in the hepatitis since the beginning of the genocide.
More than once, international human rights and health institutions have warned of the danger of a complete collapse of the health system in the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli attacks and restrictions.