Gaza’s only specialized cancer hospital, the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, has been completely destroyed in a massive explosion carried out by Israeli forces. The blast, which also leveled an adjacent medical school, has been widely condemned as part of Israel’s systematic targeting of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure. The hospital had already suffered significant damage from Israeli airstrikes since October 2023, forcing it to shut down due to fuel shortages. The destruction has left thousands of cancer patients in the besieged territory without access to critical medical treatment, worsening the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The Israeli military justified the attack by claiming, without presenting evidence, that the facility was being used by Hamas. Footage of the explosion, showing a massive fireball and thick smoke rising over the ruins, has sparked international outrage.

Turkey, which funded the hospital’s construction with a $34 million donation in 2017, has strongly condemned the attack. In a statement, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Israel of carrying out “deliberate” destruction as part of its policy to make Gaza uninhabitable and forcibly displace Palestinians. The Gaza Ministry of Health also denounced the act, calling it “criminal behavior” aimed at systematically dismantling the region’s healthcare system. According to the ministry, the hospital was the only facility in Gaza capable of treating up to 30,000 cancer patients annually. Meanwhile, other medical facilities in Gaza continue to come under attack, with five children reportedly killed in an airstrike near al-Ahli Arab Hospital.

As Israel’s bombardment intensifies, international calls for a ceasefire have grown louder. Hamas has stated that it is considering a U.S.-backed proposal to restore the truce, while Germany, France, and Britain are pressuring Washington to take stronger action in stopping the assault. Despite these efforts, President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has remained vague about U.S. support for a ceasefire, emphasizing instead the need for “stability” in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown no signs of backing down, with military operations expanding in Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor and further restrictions being imposed on civilian movement.