The Wreckage of Gaza's Last Cancer Hospital: A Calamitous Closure
Cancer facility in Gaza shuts down following attacks
In the war-torn Gaza Strip, the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, the sole beacon of hope for heart and cancer treatments, has ceased operations. The culprit? Devastating attacks by the Israeli military, as unveiled by WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Heated discussions ensued when Israel's army claimed a "precise attack on Hamas terrorists" within the hospital's premises. However, confirming these allegations was impossible due to lack of independent verification.
The consequences of this hospital's closure, as underscored by Dr. Ghebreyesus, are alarming. The lack of services like neurosurgery, heart treatment, and cancer treatment in Gaza have become a daunting reality, as no alternatives exist. "Hospitals should never be subjected to militarization or attacks," he emphasized.
Doctors Without Borders echoed this sentiment, painting a grim picture of the afflicted healthcare system in Gaza, with the European Hospital serving as one of its last lifelines. Regrettably, the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis suffered attacks on the same fateful day, further intensifying the healthcare crisis.
Since March 18, following a two-month truce, Israel has renewed its offensive in Gaza. On May 13, Israel's security cabinet approved the expansion of these operations and devised a plan resembling a "conquest" of the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid supplies since March 2.
The attacks rendered the European Hospital inaccessible due to severe destruction. The devastation reached the hospital's infrastructure, including sewage lines, internal medical departments, and roads leading to the facility. This systematic damage made it impossible for the hospital to function after the attacks on May 13, 2025[2][4][5].
As the European Hospital was the only remaining facility in Gaza providing essential specialized medical services, such as cancer treatment, cardiac care, and ophthalmology, this closure presents a stunning medical crisis. With 28 intensive care beds, 12 incubators for newborns, 260 general hospital beds, 25 emergency beds, and 60 oncology beds now out of service[1][4][5], cancer patients confront an ominous future.
This shutdown has also deprived Gaza's healthcare system of its critical hub for medical evacuations, increasing the burden on an already overstretched system. With the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis being the only operational hospital left, it too faces challenges, having been targeted by strikes, and grapples with constant shortages of medical supplies and fuel[2][4].
The situation is dire. Repeated attacks on healthcare facilities have pushed the healthcare system to the brink of collapse, making it impossible to provide adequate care for patients with critical illnesses. Organizations like the WHO and Doctors Without Borders have spoken out against the targeting of hospitals and advocate for their protection, as well as a cessation of hostilities to allow unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and medical services[2].
In essence, the closure of the European Hospital stems from targeted Israeli attacks that led to extensive damage to the hospital's infrastructure and medical departments, culminating in its permanent shutdown. The loss of this essential facility has left Gaza bereft of cancer treatment and many other specialized services, propagating an already precarious healthcare crisis[1][2][4][5].
- The closure of the European Hospital, a significant health policy focused institution in Gaza, has left the community policy regarding health and wellness in a critical state, as it was the sole provider of specialized treatments including cancer care and heart treatment, further emphasizing the need for science-driven medical-conditions management in the region.
- As the European Hospital was a crucial policy implementation for both community health and health policies in Gaza, the lack of its operation due to devastating attacks has left the region with a significant gap in cancer treatment and health-and-wellness services, highlighting the urgency for improved health policies and scientific strategies to combat this calamitous situation.
