Closure of Last Cancer Hospital in Gaza Wreaks Havoc on Healthcare System
Cancer Facility in Gaza Shutters Due to Assaults
The European Hospital, once a critical lifeline for the devastated healthcare system of Gaza, has been forced to shut down following severe damage inflicted by Israeli forces. WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, made this declaration. The hospital was the sole provider of essential heart and cancer treatments in the conflict-stricken Gaza Strip.
Israeli military aggression left the European Hospital in Khan Yunis with extensive damage on May 13th. This complicated hospital's functioning, pushing it to a non-operational state, as reported by Tedros on a public platform. The Israeli military cited a tactical strike against Hamas terrorists within a command center situated under the hospital, although these claims could not be independently verified.
The hospital’s closure has led to a devastating loss of crucial treatments such as neurosurgery, heart treatment, and cancer treatment, which no longer are available elsewhere in Gaza. The World Health Organization emphasized the need to safeguard hospitals, urging that they should not be used for military purposes or targeted in any way.
In the News "Jordan Condemns Israeli Targeting of European Hospital in Gaza"
The European Hospital's closure leaves Doctors Without Borders deeply concerned about the already vulnerable healthcare system in Gaza. The Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis now stands as the last functional facility, although it too was attacked on the same day by Israeli forces. The Islamic Palestinian organization, Hamas, is accused by Israel of abusing Gaza's hospitals for terrorist activities.
After a provisional ceasefire, Israel began renewed military actions in Gaza on March 18th. In early May, the Israeli security cabinet extended its military operation and adopted a plan for the "conquest" of Gaza. Since March 2nd, Israel also halted humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip.
Sources: ntv.de, raf/dpa, [2][3][4][5]
- Healthcare
- Gaza
- Middle East Conflict
- Hamas
- Israel
- Humanitarian Aid
- World Health Organization
- Doctors Without Borders
Further Insights
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that repeated targeting of the European Hospital made it impossible to deliver medical care due to the danger posed to medical staff and patients. The hospital was the only facility providing cancer treatment in Gaza since the destruction of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital. The hospital's closure resulted in the cessation of specialized services such as neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, and ophthalmology. Cancer patients were significantly impacted, as they were deprived of treatment protocols, exacerbating their health conditions. [2][3]
- The closure of the European Hospital in Gaza, a critical provider of essential cancer treatments, has seriously affected the healthcare system in the region, according to WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
- The European Hospital's shutdown has resulted in the loss of specialized services like neurosurgery, heart treatment, and cancer treatment, which are no longer available elsewhere in Gaza.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) urged the protection of hospitals, stating they should not be used for military purposes or targeted in any way.
- The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that the repeated targeting of the European Hospital made it impossible to deliver medical care due to the danger posed to medical staff and patients, resulting in the cessation of specialized services like cancer treatment.
