The European Hospital in Gaza Shuts Down After Devastating Attacks
Cancer clinic in Gaza forced to shutdown due to attacks
Taking a toll on medical services in the Gaza Strip, the European Hospital - a vital institution offering critical heart and cancer treatments - has been forced to close its doors due to severe damages from Israeli military attacks. The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed the hospital's closure on X.
The European Hospital in Khan Younis, a sealed-off coastal region, suffered extensive damages in attacks on May 13. WHO's Director-General noted that Israel's military attacks left the hospital non-functional and inaccessible. The Israeli army had claimed the attack targeted Hamas terrorists in a command and control center located beneath the hospital, a claim that remains unverified.
Other facilities in Gaza are also facing the brunt of these attacks. For instance, the Nasser Hospital, the only functioning clinic in Khan Younis, has itself been targeted by Israeli forces. Following the European Hospital's closure, the Nasser Hospital is now the last line of defense for critically ill patients, despite the attacks it has also endured.
Doctors Without Borders lamented the shutdown, describing the European Hospital as "one of the last lifelines in the destroyed health system of the Gaza Strip." The escalating conflict and relentless attacks are deepening the healthcare crisis in the region, placing additional strain on an already overburdened system and exacerbating the dire conditions in Gaza.
With such hospitals under constant attack, it's clear that they must never become battlefields. As the number of operational healthcare facilities dwindles, it's crucial to safeguard the remaining ones from further harm to ensure that critically ill patients have access to life-saving treatments. The World Health Organization and Doctors Without Borders advocate fiercely for the protection of hospitals and all healthcare providers during armed conflict.
The targeting of healthcare facilities in Gaza adds to the growing humanitarian crisis in the region, making the area increasingly uninhabitable. As tensions escalate and restrictions on humanitarian aid continue to be enforced, urgent action is required to avert further catastrophe and to alleviate the suffering of its people.
References:
- ntv.de
- dpa
- MSF (Doctors Without Borders)
- WHO (World Health Organization)
- Amid the ongoing conflict and relentless attacks, the European Hospital's closure due to devastating military attacks highlights the need for strong community policies that prioritize health and promote health and wellness, particularly during times of crisis.
- The targeting of medical facilities in Gaza, such as the European Hospital and the Nasser Hospital, underscores the importance of implementing robust health policies at both local and international levels to prevent such attacks and safeguard the science of medicine and the treatment of medical-conditions, especially during instances of cancer.
