SAFA – Gaza's Health Ministry warned on Thursday of catastrophic consequences for cancer patients after chemotherapy treatment protocols came to a complete halt due to the depletion of essential medications, describing the situation as a "slow death sentence" for thousands of patients.

In a statement, the ministry said oncology services across the Gaza Strip have been brought to a complete standstill because specialized chemotherapy drugs are no longer available.

The ministry stressed that the interruption of chemotherapy is not merely a delay in treatment, warning that missing scheduled doses allows tumors to return rapidly and aggressively, placing thousands of patients at risk of death, including hundreds of children and women.

According to the statement, many cancer patients are enduring severe pain without access to treatment or even basic pain relief. It added that the continued inability of many patients to travel outside Gaza has further diminished their chances of receiving life-saving care.

The ministry called on all relevant parties to intervene immediately by ensuring the urgent entry of chemotherapy medications into the Gaza Strip to save the lives of cancer patients.