GAZA STRIP (MEMO) – The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the besieged Gaza Strip said the Zionist blockade on the enclave has led to the death of 3,000 cancer patients.
“The ministry is making a great effort to … address the environmental factors that cause many diseases resulting from pollution, such as cancer, respiratory diseases and strokes,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that it is also working to mitigate the impact of the blockade on treatment.
On Thursday, to mark World Health Day, the ministry launched a global appeal to enhance health and environmental factors in Gaza, and develop health services provided to patients, especially those battling cancer and blood diseases.
“The Israeli occupation and its continuous siege of more than 15 years have turned the Gaza Strip into a geographic spot infected with the causes of environmental pollution, and put many challenges ahead of the health system,” it added.
According to the statement, the Zionist regime deprives patients of 47 percent of essential medicines, 21 percent of medical consumables, and 60 percent of laboratory supplies.
A spokesman for the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, Abdel Latif Al-Qanoua said Thursday, that the Zionist regime authorities continue to flagrantly violate international laws and humanitarian covenants by besieging the Gaza Strip, preventing the entry of medical equipment and devices into it, and preventing Palestinian patients from travelling abroad for treatment, as well as practicing medical negligence against Palestinian prisoners in jails.
Al-Qanoua said the regime’s “racist behavior” against thousands of Palestinian patients “requires international organizations, especially the WHO, to redouble their efforts and play their role in saving the lives of Palestinian patients.”
He called on the WHO to shoulder its responsibilities towards the regime’s deliberate medical neglect of Palestinian prisoners in the prisons and work to save their lives.