Gaza’s Cancer Patients Are Being Denied Life-Saving Medicines

According to a recent If Americans Knew daily update, cancer medicines and other essential medical supplies have been prevented from reaching people in Gaza. The consequences are devastating: patients who depend on chemotherapy and other life-saving treatments are being left without the care they urgently need.

This is not simply a political dispute—it is a matter of human life. International humanitarian law places obligations on an occupying power regarding the provision of medical supplies and the maintenance of medical services for the civilian population. Deliberately denying civilians access to essential medical treatment can constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law and, depending on the circumstances, may amount to a war crime.

Historically, Israel has also restricted certain goods entering Gaza. In 2018, for example, Israeli authorities restricted the entry of helium after Palestinians in Gaza used helium-filled balloons and other airborne devices to carry incendiary materials into Israel. Contemporary reporting also documented the use of inflated latex condoms as balloons carrying flammable materials and, in some cases, small explosive devices.

The episode illustrates how restrictions imposed for security reasons can have consequences for civilian life. Helium, for example, has medical applications, including in MRI machines, which was acknowledged in reporting at the time.

Whatever one’s political views, no civilian should be denied life-saving medicine. The international community must insist that essential medical supplies reach the people who need them.