Health Ministry: Israeli siege of Gaza caused 3,000 cancer deaths
Besieged Gaza Strip (QNN)- The Palestinian Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip said the Israeli blockade on the enclave has caused 3,000 cancer deaths.
On April 7, to mark World Health Day, the Ministry launched a global appeal to enhance health and environmental factors in Gaza.
The appeal also aims to develop health services provided to patients, especially those battling cancer and blood diseases.
Since laying siege on Gaza, ‘Israel’, the Ministry said, turned the Strip into “a geographic spot infected with the causes of environmental pollution.”
It added that ‘Israel’ also puts many challenges ahead of the health system.
According to the Ministry, ‘Israel’ deprives patients of 47 percent of essential medicines.
It also deprives patients of 21 percent of medical consumables and 60 percent of laboratory supplies.
‘Israel’ also denied forty percent of the patients the permission to leave the Gaza Strip for treatment.
This caused the death of hundreds of them during the 15 years of siege.
On March 25, a 19-month-old Gazan patient died after ‘Israel’ denied her access to a hospital outside the besieged Gaza Strip.
Medical sources announced the death of Fatma Jalal al-Masri that day. ‘Israel’ denied her access to a hospital outside Gaza at Erez crossing.
According to Al Mezan, Fatma’s legal representative, doctors diagnosed her with a ventricular septal defect in 2021.
However, ‘Israel’ denied Fatma the requisite exit permit to travel to Occupied Jerusalem for the appointments.
The last was on 5 March 2022.
The young patient’s health deteriorated over the course of several months of denied care.
She died three weeks after her last missed appointment.
