According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 50% of the cancer patients in the Gaza Strip are deprived from receiving treatment due to a shortage in medicines and equipment. This is a result of the Israeli occupation blockade imposed on Gaza for 17 years in a row. 

Ashraf Al-Qedra, a spokesman, stated, in a conference convened by the Ministry of Health to shed the light on the suffering of cancer patients, that “the ongoing blockade for 17 consecutive years has resulted in the martyrdom of dozens of sick people due to a shortage of the needed medicine and equipment.” 

“40% of the oncology patients are deprived from permits by the Israeli occupation to receive treatment outside,” he added. 

He also noted that the cancer rate has risen from 60 patients per 100 thousand to 93.1 patients per 100 thousand people.