Gaza siege leaves cancer patients without treatment

Despite having no prior medical conditions, and being an athlete, Ahmed al-Yaqoubi, a Palestinian from Gaza, was diagnosed with blood cancer in February 2021.

The 28-year-old's diagnosis was a turning point in his life, as his immunity plummeted, Yaqoubi went from a normal life to needing two units of blood a week. 

Due to the severity of his condition, Yaqoubi was transferred from the al-Rantisi hospital in Gaza to the an-Najah hospital in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus. 

"After undergoing a biopsy of my body and undergoing comprehensive tests, it became clear that the type of leukaemia I had was MDS [myelodysplastic syndrome], a rare form of leukaemia, requiring a marrow transplant,” Yaqoubi told Middle East Eye.

Since the war started on 7 October, and Israel imposed a siege on Gaza, Yaqoubi can no longer get ahold of medicine, crucial to his life prospects. 

Aseel Mousa reports from Gaza on Palestinians with rare conditions experiencing excruciating pain and deteriorating health.

Read more: Gaza siege leaves cancer patients without treatment