Current Situation of Cancer Treatment in Gaza
Cancer treatment facility in Gaza Strip temporarily halts operations, as declared by the World Health Organization. - Cancer hospital in Gaza shuts down, leaving no cancer treatment facilities for residents
A tragic incident unfolded in the Gaza Strip as the European Hospital, the last beacon for cancer treatment, closed down following a brutal attack by Israeli forces on May 13, 2025. The hospital took a severe hit, effectively shutting down critical services like neurosurgery, cardiac care, and cancer treatment - these services being unavailable anywhere else in Gaza [2][4].
This disaster has multiplied the woes of the already stressed healthcare infrastructure in Gaza. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the grim news, condemning the destructive attack that left a massive gap in the shattered health system of the Gaza Strip.
WHO's Negative Report
The WHO denounced the attack on the European Hospital, stating it halted essential services and emphasized the importance of safeguarding health facilities in conflict zones. The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed concern about the incident, underscoring the significance of the hospital as a hub for medical evacuations and stressing its protection [4].
The Plight of Cancer Patients
The demise of the European Hospital has left cancer patients in a precarious position. With the destruction of this facility and ongoing restrictions on seeking treatment outside Gaza, these individuals are now isolated and devoid of access to specialized care [5].
This grim scenario is part of a broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza that is teetering on the brink of a famine, bringing hardship to the population [3].
Rising Concerns over Healthcare Facilities
The repeated attacks against healthcare centers like the Nasser Hospital, the only remaining public hospital in Khan Younis [2][4], suggest a deliberate strategy to erode the Gaza Strip’s fragile healthcare infrastructure. This distressing situation, as highlighted by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), conveys the widespread impact Israeli authorities’ actions are having on the healthcare sector in Gaza.
- Who is concerned about the attack on the European Hospital, a critical facility for cancer treatment in Gaza that was destroyed by Israeli forces? The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expresses this concern.
- In Gaza, where is the only remaining public hospital located? It is in Khan Younis, as suggested by the repeated attacks against healthcare centers in this area.
- What services are no longer available for cancer patients in Gaza since the European Hospital shut down? These patients can no longer access neurosurgery, cardiac care, and cancer treatment in Gaza.
- What other medical-conditions and health-and-wellness issues are cancer patients contending with in addition to the destruction of hospitals in Gaza? They are facing a broader humanitarian crisis that is pushing Gaza towards a famine, bringing hardship to the entire population.
