WHO Reports Closure of Gaza's Last Cancer Treatment Facility

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the last cancer treatment center in the Gaza Strip has ceased operations, following significant damage from recent Israeli airstrikes. The European Hospital in Khan Younis, located in the southern part of the besieged territory, was struck on May 13 and has since been rendered non-operational.

According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the closure of this facility has resulted in the loss of essential medical services, including neurosurgery, cardiac care, and cancer treatments, which are not available elsewhere in Gaza. He emphasized the need to protect hospitals, stating they should never be militarized or targeted.

The Israeli military claimed that their attack was a precise operation aimed at a Hamas command and control center situated beneath the hospital. However, these claims have not been independently verified. The military has also accused Hamas of utilizing hospitals in the Gaza Strip for terrorist activities.

In light of the closure, Médecins Sans Frontières has described the European Hospital as one of the last lifelines for the crumbling healthcare system in Gaza. The Nasser Hospital is now identified as the only functioning medical facility in Khan Younis.

The conflict in the region continues to have devastating impacts on healthcare access for the population of Gaza, where the ongoing violence has led to severe shortages of medical supplies and personnel. The closure of this hospital underlines the critical humanitarian crisis unfolding in the area, which has seen months of conflict and a blockade that limits access to essential services and goods.

As international calls for humanitarian aid increase, the situation remains dire for those in need of urgent medical care. The health sector in Gaza is under immense strain, with facilities struggling to cope with the high demand for services amidst ongoing hostilities.

With the European Hospital out of commission, it is uncertain how patients requiring specialized cancer treatments will receive care. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with hopes for an eventual ceasefire and restoration of vital healthcare services in Gaza.