Gaza's Cancer Fight: Another Hospital Halts Operations, Leaving Patients Desperate
Cancer treatment hospital in Gaza Strip ceases operations, designated as last of its kind. - Cancer establishment in Gaza, operated by WHO, shuts down
The EU Hospital, the final beacon providing cancer treatment in the war-torn Gaza Strip, has sadly stopped its operations due to an Israeli military strike. The World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom, expressed outrage over the attack, urging protection for all health facilities amidst the turmoil. "Enough is enough! Healthcare infrastructure must never be targeted in this cruel conflict," he stressed.
The European Hospital in Khan Younis was severely damaged in a military assault on May 13, 2025. This facility served not just as a cancer treatment center but also offered vital services like neurosurgery and cardiac care, which have now vanished from Gaza's healthcare scene. Any hope for resuming these services seems bleak currently, as the damage is severe, and similar services are unavailable elsewhere within Gaza.
Tragically, the Nasser Hospital, located in the same region, was not spared. It too was struck by Israeli forces only hours before the attack on the European Hospital, marking the hospital's second hit within two months. Although Nasser Hospital remains operational, the entire healthcare system in Gaza, already struggling, is reaching its breaking point.
Israel resumed its military offensive against Gaza on March 18, after a two-month ceasefire. The offensive has intensified, with the Israeli security cabinet approving an expansion on May 5 and endorsing a "conquest" plan. Since the beginning of March, Israel has also been obstructing humanitarian aid deliveries to the area.
Charity organization Médecins Sans Frontières has pointed out the dire consequences of the European Hospital's shutdown, describing it as "one of the last remaining lifelines in the shattered health system of the Gaza Strip." With the Nasser Hospital overburdened, the fight against cancer in Gaza has taken a devastating blow.
In light of these events, Gaza's cancer patients face a dire future, as they struggle to find suitable treatment due to the devastating infrastructure damage, shortages of vital medications, and frequent power failures. Adding to their plight, over 1,000 cancer patients have had their treatments disrupted, and many more chronic patients suffering from cancer, diabetes, and kidney failure are grappling with severe health hardships due to the lack of regular care.
In these troubling times, hope seems elusive for the people of Gaza. The need for international intervention could not be more urgent, as the lives of countless cancer patients hang in the balance.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom, expressed concern for the people of Gaza who are currently struggling with cancer, as the last hospital providing treatment, the European Hospital, has halted operations due to a military strike, leaving the already strained healthcare system at a breaking point.
- With the World Health Organization urging protection for all health facilities amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, it is crucial to question who will ensure the safe operation of hospitals providing critical care, such as cancer treatment, moving forward?
- As the fight against cancer in Gaza faces a devastating blow due to the closure of the European Hospital and the overburdening of the Nasser Hospital, the international community should consider the consequences of war-and-conflicts on health-and-wellness, particularly in the case of general-news about medical-conditions like cancer.
- Amidst science and politics, the need for uninterrupted cancer treatment in Gaza cannot be overlooked. As military offensives continue and humanitarian aid deliveries are obstructed, hope for the general public's health-and-wellness seems uncertain, especially for those grappling with severe health conditions like cancer, cancer treatment, and other chronic medical conditions.
