Occupation and oncology: cancer care in Palestine - Report - MDSpire
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Cancer Management in Palestine: The Impact of Occupation on Oncology Care

  • By

  • Layth Mula-Hussain

  • Zahi Abdul-Sater

  • Caroline Samaha Jabbour

  • Fadi Atrash

  • Hibah Osman

  • Gevorg Tamamyan

  • Shada Wadi-Ramahi

  • Jemma Arakelyan

  • Khamis Elessi

  • Asem Mansour

  • Richard Sullivan

  • September 4, 2026

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Clinical Report: Cancer Management in Palestine: The Impact of Occupation on Oncology Care

Background

Cancer represents a significant global health burden, with nearly 20 million new cases reported in 2022. In fragile and conflict-affected regions like Palestine, the provision of cancer care is particularly vulnerable to disruptions. The unique challenges faced by Palestine, including prolonged occupation and limited health sovereignty, exacerbate the difficulties in delivering comprehensive oncology services.

Data Highlights

No numerical data or trial data provided in the source material.

Key Findings

  • Occupation and armed conflict have led to a decline in oncology systems in Palestine.
  • Access to radiotherapy is severely limited, with Gaza lacking radiotherapy facilities and the West Bank facing delays.
  • Oncology access collapsed after October 2023, with significant shortages of cancer medications reported.
  • Patients' rights are compromised due to restricted movement and inadequate governance.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals should be aware of the systemic barriers to cancer care in Palestine.

Conclusion

The intersection of occupation and healthcare in Palestine presents significant challenges for oncology care.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Frontiers in Oncology, 2026 -- Cancer care cannot wait: oncology system resilience in the UAE during regional conflict in the gulf
  2. The ASCO Post, 2015 -- Palliative Care in the Middle East
  3. The ASCO Post, 2016 -- Cancer on the Global Stage: Incidence and Cancer-Related Mortality in Israel
  4. Frontiers in Pediatrics — Underutilisation of rehabilitation for children with cancer in Gaza: the experience of the non-governmental organisation Children Not Numbers
  5. WHO Technical Report Series, 2025
  6. ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for early and locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer
  7. Report on meetings of expert committees and study groups
  8. Implementing Cancer Medicines on the WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines Into National Systems | Oncology | JAMA Oncology | JAMA Network
  9. European Society For Medical Oncology | ESMO
  10. Therapy for Stage IV Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer With Driver Alterations: ASCO Living Guideline, 2026.3.0
  11. Tarlatamab in Small-Cell Lung Cancer after Platinum-Based Chemotherapy | New England Journal of Medicine
  12. IMDELLTRA® SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED RISK OF DEATH BY 40% IN SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER PATIENTS
  13. Proton versus photon radiotherapy for patients with oropharyngeal cancer in the USA: a multicentre, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority phase 3 trial - PMC
  14. Adjuvant Selpercatinib Reduces Disease Recurrence, Progression in Some Patients With Lung Cancer - ASCO
  15. Perioperative (neoadjuvant and adjuvant) apalutamide (APA) + androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) vs placebo (PBO) + ADT with radical prostatectomy (RP) in high-risk localized or locally advanced prostate cancer (HR LPC/LAPC): Final analysis of the PROTEUS phase 3 study.
  16. PROTEUS Trial Suggests Perioperative Apalutamide May Improve Outcomes in High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer - The ASCO Post
  17. Daraxonrasib in KRAS-Mutant Pancreatic Cancer: A First Step in Shifting the Paradigm of Treatment - The ASCO Post
  18. The human crisis in cancer: a Lancet Oncology Commission - PubMed
  19. Cancer workforce—a global crisis: a Lancet Oncology Commission - ScienceDirect
  20. Cancer care in conflict-affected regions: a scoping review of service delivery challenges, healthcare system adaptations, and policy implications | Conflict and Health | Springer Nature Link
  21. Gaza Humanitarian Response Update | 25 May - 7 June 2025 | United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Occupied Palestinian Territory
  22. WHO’S RESPONSE IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

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