Gaza's Only Cancer Hospital Forced to Shut Down Due to Fuel Shortages, Leaving Thousands of Patients at Risk

 In a devastating blow to the already dire healthcare situation in the Gaza Strip, the only hospital offering cancer treatment has been forced to shut down due to fuel shortages. The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, which serves as a lifeline for many cancer patients, ran out of fuel amid Israel's ongoing blockade of the territory. This blockade has not only cut off supplies of fuel, but has also severely restricted access to food, water, and electricity. With hospitals filled with the dying and wounded, the closure of the cancer treatment hospital has put immense pressure on medical workers and left thousands of patients at risk.

The director of the hospital, Subhi Sukeyk, pleaded with the world not to abandon cancer patients to certain death. The suspension of operations at the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital adds to the growing list of hospitals that are unable to function in Gaza. Out of the 35 hospitals in the region, 16 are now out of service, along with over 50 primary healthcare clinics. Palestinian health authorities have stated that 70 cancer patients within the hospital are in serious danger, as their lives are threatened by the lack of access to proper treatment. The situation is dire not only for cancer patients, but also for pregnant women who face giving birth without adequate medical support.

With the estimated 50,000 pregnant women and girls in Gaza at risk of missing antenatal care and delivering without electricity or medical supplies, the human rights group Human Rights Watch has called attention to the vulnerability of these women. Fuel shortages have also brought humanitarian operations in Gaza to the brink of collapse. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has stated that it is desperate for fuel, as none has entered the Gaza Strip for three and a half weeks. The agency is currently overwhelmed, with four times the number of people seeking shelter than planned.

Fuel is being described as "absolutely lifesaving" by UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma. The ongoing Israeli aggression and blockade have left the healthcare system in Gaza in shambles. As a result, the number of cancer patients in the region has skyrocketed to about 2,000, with many living in catastrophic health conditions. The displacement caused by the Israeli attacks has further exacerbated the crisis. The death toll in Gaza continues to rise, reaching 8,796 Palestinians, including 3,648 children, according to the health ministry. The international community must urgently address the dire situation in Gaza, specifically ensuring that medical facilities have access to fuel and other necessary resources. Without immediate intervention, cancer patients and others in need of medical care in Gaza face a bleak future. The lives of thousands are at stake, and urgent action is required to prevent further tragedy in the region.