DayofPal—Cancer patients in the Gaza Strip are confronting a deepening humanitarian catastrophe, as the Strip’s health system verges on collapse amid ongoing attacks and restrictions.
At a time when the world marked World Cancer Day earlier this month, offering messages of solidarity and awareness, conditions in Gaza painted a starkly different picture.
An estimated 11,000 to 12,000 cancer patients in the enclave are struggling to access basic treatment, with many facing life-threatening delays due to destroyed infrastructure, medicine shortages and travel restrictions.
Health officials in Gaza report that up to 70 percent of essential cancer medications are unavailable. Oncology, chemotherapy and radiotherapy services have largely ceased operations after hospitals were damaged or rendered inoperable due to fuel and supply shortages.
Diagnostic services have also been severely affected. MRI and CT scan machines are out of service in many facilities, hindering early detection and monitoring of tumor progression.
Medical staff report daily deaths among patients whose conditions have worsened amid malnutrition and harsh living conditions in displacement camps.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, more than 20,000 patients and wounded people are awaiting permission to travel abroad for treatment. Among them are critical cases involving cancer, heart disease, kidney failure and severe injuries.
Officials say the partial reopening of the Rafah crossing on February 2 has not matched the scale of need.
Medical referral lists continue to grow, with more than 3,000 patients reportedly prevented from leaving Gaza after border closures intensified, particularly following restrictions at Rafah.
Doctors also note a rise in newly diagnosed cancer cases during the war, citing weakened immunity, environmental hazards and limited preventive care.
The most common cancers reported include breast, colon, lung, prostate, nasopharyngeal and lymphatic cancers.
Patient Munther Abu Foul, has waited more than two years for approval to travel for treatment. Confined to his bed and enduring chronic pain, he says lifesaving medications are unavailable and that patients are dying in hospitals lacking basic resources.
In another case, Mohammed Hammou remains at his elderly mother’s side as she battles cancer, calling for either adequate treatment inside Gaza or safe passage abroad.
He described watching a loved one suffer without medical support as “a scene no human conscience can bear.”
The World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office has warned that cancer care must be integrated into emergency responses in prolonged crises.
Gaza’s only specialized cancer hospital was reportedly destroyed in March 2025, further compounding the shortage of treatment options.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported at the end of January that more than 1,200 patients in Gaza had died while waiting for medical evacuation. Nearly 4,000 cancer patients are currently listed as critical cases awaiting transfer.
The World Health Organization has supported limited medical evacuations since the partial reopening of Rafah, focusing on ensuring safe transport for patients and companions. However, more than 18,000 patients, including 4,000 children, remain on waiting lists.
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