A Damaging Blow: Gaza's Last Cancer Clinic Closed Due to Israeli Attacks
Cancer clinic in Gaza, steadfast until now, forced to shut down following series of attacks
In an alarming turn of events, the European Hospital, Gaza's last hope for critical cancer and heart treatments, has been forced to close due to severe damage from Israeli attacks. The World Health Organization (WHO) made this announcement, citing the facility as "no longer functional" following the attacks on May 13th.
The European Hospital in Khan Younis, located in the besieged Gaza Strip, endured heavy damage in these attacks, leading to the suspension of vital services such as neurosurgery, heart treatment, and cancer treatment. The WHO Chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemned the attack, asserting that hospitals must never be targeted or militarized.
The hospital's closure leaves only the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis as an operational clinic in the area. Unfortunately, this facility, too, was attacked on the same day, raising concerns about the misuse of healthcare facilities by the Islamic Palestinian organization, Hamas. Israel's army claims Hamas is employing hospitals for terrorist purposes.
Following a two-month ceasefire, Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip resumed on March 18th. This escalation has included the blocking of humanitarian aid, exacerbating the healthcare crisis in Gaza. Since March 2nd, only limited aid deliveries have been permitted.
The European Hospital was described by Doctors Without Borders as a "last hope" in the shattered healthcare system of Gaza. The ongoing conflict has resulted in extensive damage to hospitals, health centers, and medical institutions, making the provision of adequate healthcare increasingly challenging. Currently, Gaza's healthcare services are severely stretched, with the few remaining hospitals operating at capacity and struggling to meet the mounting medical needs amid continuous attacks.
In the face of these repeated attacks on medical facilities, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, and living conditions are becoming increasingly unbearable. Healthcare workers and organizations are urging a halt to the targeting of medical facilities to allow for the provision of essential services and the preservation of human life.
- Hospital: European Hospital, Nasser Medical Complex
- Location: Gaza, Khan Younis
- Conflict Involvement: Middle East, Israel, Hamas
- Humanitarian Aid: World Health Organization, Doctors Without Borders
- Critical Care Services: Cancer, cardiac, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, cardiac catheterization, ophthalmology
Additional Insight: The European Hospital in Khan Younis sustained significant damage not only to its structure but also to its sewage lines, internal departments, and roads leading to the facility, which made it unsafe to provide medical care. The repeated targeting of healthcare facilities in Gaza has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with many other hospitals and health facilities destroyed or inoperative. As a result, the healthcare system is in a critical state, with most facilities either destroyed or overburdened with the magnitude of medical needs.[1][2][3]
- The ongoing conflict in Gaza, specifically the Israeli attacks, has resulted in the closure of the European Hospital, a critical care facility for cancer, heart, and neurosurgery treatments.
- The WHO has described the European Hospital as "no longer functional" following these attacks, leaving only the Nasser Medical Complex as an operational clinical institution in the area.
- The repeated targeting of medical facilities in Gaza, such as the European Hospital and the Nasser Medical Complex, is a concern for healthcare workers and organizations who are urging a halt to these attacks to preserve human life.
- Amid the escalating conflict, the healthcare system in Gaza is in a critical state, with most hospitals either destroyed or overburdened, making the provision of adequate healthcare increasingly challenging. [1][2][3]
[1] European Hospital in Gaza closes after Israeli attacks - BBC News[2] Gaza's hospitals are being targeted by Israel - Middle East Eye[3] Gaza's collapsing healthcare system is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, report finds - Amnesty International
