PCHR Issues New Report: “Women with Cancer in Gaza Face Imminent Death Risk Amid Ongoing Genocide “

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights issues , a new report titled “Women with Cancer Face Imminent Death Amid the Ongoing Genocide Crime.” This report is the outcome of the concerted efforts of the Women’s Rights Unit team, who have been monitoring, documenting, conducting daily follow-ups, and maintaining direct contact with women victims of violations in shelters distributed across the Gaza Strip.”

The report highlights the catastrophic health situation of women with cancer during the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip for 17 years, manifested by the Israeli occupation’s prevention of the supply of medical devices for their treatment, including X-ray machines and medical radioisotopes. It also addresses the shortage of medicines and medical supplies, most notably the absence of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, biological, and hormonal treatments. In addition, it discusses the obstacles imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities on their travel abroad for treatment for various reasons, and the bargaining of some of them to receive treatment in exchange for cooperation with the Israeli intelligence.

The report illuminates on Israeli violations that prevent women with cancer from enjoying their health rights, which fall within the acts of genocide committed by the occupation against civilians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. The healthcare system in the sector has been systematically targeted, and the only hospital dedicated to treating cancer patients, the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, was put out of service. Additionally, obstacles have been imposed on female cancer patients seeking treatment abroad. Moreover, the imposition of poor health conditions poses a real threat to the health of women with cancer, including exposing them to various military attacks and forcing displacement to shelters lacking the minimum health standards.

The report also documents, through testimonies collected by PCHR team, the repercussions of Israeli violations on women with cancer during the Israeli military aggression. Women with cancer continuously face the risk of death due to the blatant Israeli violations of their right to life and their right to receive treatment. These oppressive measures have led to the death of some women with cancer, while the rest face the risk of death due to the deterioration of their health conditions.

In its recommendations, the report calls upon PCHR calls upon the International community to exert pressure on Israel to Cease all genocidal acts, including the restrictions imposed on the travel of female cancer patients that have directly increased the casualty toll among women in the Gaza Strip and comply with the legally-binding provisional measures order lately issued by the International Court of Justice to prevent all acts of genocide, and enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance, including allowing the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital to re-function with all its staff and equipment as well as ensuring the free passage of all consignments of medicine and medical material necessary for its functioning. The report also demands Israel to fulfill its obligations as an occupying power by ensuring everyone’s enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and accessibility to healthcare.