Gaza: The Gaza Center for Human Rights issued an urgent warning regarding the deteriorating health situation of cancer patients in the Gaza Strip, pointing to rising mortality rates due to the near-complete halt of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments and restrictions on travel for treatment abroad.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the center stated that the daily death rate has reached between four and five cases per day among cancer patients deprived of chemotherapy. Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya, Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, highlighted that approximately 4,000 cancer patients are at imminent risk of death due to the unavailability of treatment.

The director confirmed that the shortage exceeds 50% in essential medicines and that more than 70% of medical supplies are missing. He added that the Gaza Strip has approximately 12,500 cancer patients, as reported by the World Health Organization, with more than 2,000 new cases diagnosed annually, including 122 cases among children. Treatment sessions have completely stopped since mid-2025, leading to the deaths of at least 1,400 patients while awaiting approval to travel abroad for treatment.

The director demanded that denying patients treatment be considered a legal violation of international conventions and obligations related to healthcare. He also called for the immediate opening of border crossings to allow the entry of medicines and medical supplies and to facilitate travel for treatment.

He appealed to the international community to establish an international mechanism to monitor medical evacuations and to provide urgent support to oncology departments to reduce preventable deaths.