Gaza cancer patients face rising death rate amid Israeli curbs, doctors say

AI Summary

Cancer patients in Gaza face a sharply increased death rate due to Israeli restrictions that prevent travel for treatment and the destruction of the only local specialized cancer facility. Approximately 17,000 patients are now without access to chemotherapy and advanced therapies.

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Hasseb Alwazeer CAIRO/GAZA, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Gaza cancer patients are dying at two to three times the pace they did before the start of the war in the territory, as Israel blocks many from travelling for treatment after destroying the only local specialised facility, Gaza doctors said. Israel blew up Gaza's specialised cancer hospital last year after saying troops found a tunnel used by Hamas militants running beneath it. That means that an estimated 17,000 Gazans with cancer have no local option for chemotherapy or other advanced therapy.