Gazas Cancer Patients Die Waiting for Life-Saving Treatment Abroad

Cancer Patients Stranded in Gaza Due to Israeli Restrictions

A significant increase in cancer-related deaths has been reported since the start of Israel’s military operation in Gaza in October 2023. According to medical sources, the number of cancer-related fatalities has tripled during this period.

Hani Naim, a six-year cancer patient, is among those stranded in Gaza due to Israeli restrictions on travel and access to treatment. Initially approved for treatment abroad, Naim now faces significant challenges in accessing necessary care. “I used to receive treatment in the West Bank and Jerusalem,” he stated. “Today, I cannot access any treatment at all.”

The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, once the primary facility providing specialized oncology care in Gaza, has been severely impacted by the conflict. The hospital’s main building was destroyed during the war, leaving patients without access to necessary medical services.

Medical staff are now operating from makeshift clinics with limited resources. Mohammed Abu Nada, the medical director of the Gaza Cancer Centre, described the situation as “total helplessness.” He stated that the center has lost its primary facility and is currently unable to diagnose or treat cancer due to a lack of equipment and chemotherapy supplies.

Despite recent ceasefire agreements aimed at allowing aid into Gaza, essential medical supplies remain blocked. Abu Nada noted that while some commercial goods have entered, life-saving drugs such as chemotherapy treatments and diagnostic devices have not been received. The World Health Organization has been appealed for assistance, but no treatment has been provided.

The shortage of cancer protocols is significant, with 60-70 percent of available treatments unavailable due to the lack of essential medications. Palliative care is also being rationed, with painkillers being limited to those with widespread cancer. The human toll of these shortages is evident, with two to three cancer patients dying daily in the Khan Younis area alone.

Currently, 3,250 patients have official referrals for treatment abroad but are unable to cross the border due to Israeli restrictions on medical evacuations. Medical staff face significant psychological burdens, with some specialists having left Gaza and others struggling to provide care without necessary equipment.

Source: Al Jazeera