Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed: 3 critical facts about cancer in Gaza that the world needs to know
Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed, Scientific Advisor at the Qatar Cancer Society, shared this post on LinkedIn
On World Cancer Day, February 4, here are three critical facts about cancer in Gaza that the world needs to know:
1. Rising Cancer Cases Amidst a Health Crisis
The incidence of cancer in Gaza has significantly increased in recent years, from 90 cases per 100,000 people in 2018 to 93.1 per 100,000 in 2022. However, during the ongoing genocide, medical teams have been unable to diagnose and track cases due to the lack of specialized equipment and continuous attacks on the healthcare system.
2. Catastrophic Conditions for Cancer Patients
Approximately 13,000 cancer patients in Gaza are facing dire and life-threatening conditions due to severe shortages in chemotherapy drugs, radiation therapy, and nuclear imaging. The lack of clean drinking water and proper nutrition has further weakened their already fragile immune systems—many rely on canned food with preservatives. During the war, only 1,500 patients managed to leave Gaza for treatment. After the occupation of Rafah in May 2024, 6,000 patients with medical referrals have been unable to leave due to the border closure.
3. Targeting of Cancer Treatment Facilities
In November 2023, Israeli forces seized the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, Gaza’s only specialized cancer hospital. Before storming the facility, they forced patients and medical staff to evacuate under fire. The hospital was then turned into a military base for the occupation’s “Netzarim Axis” operations. When the forces withdrew last week, they burned its contents and destroyed life-saving medical equipment, leaving Gaza’s cancer patients without their only dedicated treatment center.
Cancer patients in Gaza are not just fighting disease—they are fighting for survival. The world must not look away.
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