Closure of Last Cancer Treatment Facility in Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict

The European Hospital in Khan Younis, the only facility providing cancer treatment in the Gaza Strip, has ceased operations due to extensive damage from Israeli airstrikes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the hospital was severely hit during an attack on May 13, rendering it inoperable.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the closure of this hospital has eliminated critical medical services such as neurosurgery, cardiac care, and cancer treatment that are not available elsewhere in Gaza. He emphasized the necessity of protecting healthcare facilities, asserting that they should never be militarized or targeted.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) highlighted the hospital's significance, describing it as a vital lifeline within the beleaguered healthcare system of the region. Following the closure of the European Hospital, the Nasser Hospital remains the only operational medical facility in Khan Younis. However, this hospital also faced an attack on the same day, with the Israeli military reporting that it targeted Hamas militants.

The Israeli military has accused the Hamas organization of utilizing hospitals in the Gaza Strip for terrorist operations, leading to the complex and contentious nature of the ongoing conflict. As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, the implications of these attacks on civilian healthcare infrastructure raise significant concerns.

The WHO and various humanitarian organizations continue to call for the protection of medical facilities to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers, emphasizing that access to essential health services is critical, especially in conflict zones.