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Al Jazeera

Gaza's Devastating Aftermath: Cancer and Torture Victims Struggle to Survive

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Palestinian Rasha Abu Sbeaka's survival of two years of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza is a remarkable, yet tragic, story. Despite narrowly escaping multiple bombings and rubble near-misses, Abu Sbeaka's life hangs in the balance due to stage 3 breast cancer, which she believes was caused by emissions from the constant bombing and rocket fire. However, access to medical treatment remains a distant hope due to Israel's destruction of Gaza's medical sector and the closure of its border crossings.

Key Takeaways:

  • Rasha Abu Sbeaka, a Palestinian cancer patient, narrowly survived two years of Israel's war on Gaza but now faces a grim prognosis due to Israel's destruction of Gaza's medical sector and its ongoing closure of border crossings.
  • The war has left Gaza's health system in ruins, with 15,000 patients, including 3,800 children, in need of evacuation for medical treatment. Only a small number of patients, 41, have been evacuated so far.
  • Abu Sbeaka believes her cancer was caused by emissions from the constant bombing and rocket fire during the war.
  • Small numbers of patients continue to be evacuated for medical treatment under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO), but at a rate that would take a decade to process all those in need.
  • The WHO has called for the opening of all of Gaza's border crossings for the entry of aid and medical evacuations.
  • Palestinian Mervat Sarhan, released after months in an Israeli prison, shares a story of beatings and electric shocks, highlighting the struggles Palestinians face in overcoming the damage inflicted by Israel's war on Gaza.
  • Sarhan's account includes details of being denied knowledge about captives, being handcuffed and taken, and being subjected to daily interrogation and threats to her children's lives.

Statistics:

  • 15,000 patients in Gaza require evacuation for medical treatment, including 3,800 children.
  • Only 41 patients have been evacuated so far for medical treatment under the auspices of the WHO.
  • Israel continues to keep the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt closed despite the ceasefire stipulating that it would open for the movement of people.
  • The WHO estimates that current evacuation rates would take a decade to process all patients in need.

Sources:

  • Al Jazeera
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • HT Digital Content Services
  • The New Nation

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