RAMALLAH, February 4, 2026 (WAFA) — Data released by the Palestinian Ministry of Health showed an increase in the number of newly reported cancer cases of all types in the West Bank.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday to mark World Cancer Day, the ministry said 3,926 new cancer cases were recorded in 2024, with an incidence rate of 130 cases per 100,000 people, compared with 3,590 cases recorded in 2023.
World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4, aims to raise awareness among individuals and governments about cancer and its risks. This year’s observance comes amid severe health conditions facing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, where millions have been deprived of basic health services, including care for cancer patients.
The ministry noted that there is no available data on new cancer cases in Gaza, as most cases have not been diagnosed due to the ongoing war on the Strip.
The ministry reported that 1,969 new cases were recorded among males, accounting for 50.2 percent of total new cases, while 1,957 cases were recorded among females, representing 49.8 percent of cases in the West Bank in 2024.
It noted that cancer incidence increases with age due to the accumulation of risk factors associated with certain types of cancer. In the West Bank, 1,296 cancer cases were recorded among people aged over 64, representing 33 percent of all cases in 2024, despite this age group constituting only 4 percent of the total population. Meanwhile, 149 cases, or 3.8 percent of the total, were recorded among children under the age of 15, who make up 35 percent of the population.
Despite the existence of more than 200 types of cancer, five types accounted for 49 percent of all new cases recorded in the West Bank: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung and bronchial cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia.
The ministry said breast cancer remains the most common cancer in Palestine, with 584 new cases recorded in the West Bank in 2024, at an incidence rate of 19.5 cases per 100,000 people. Colorectal cancer ranked second with 554 cases, or 18.5 cases per 100,000 people, followed by lung and bronchial cancer with 316 cases and an incidence rate of 10.5 cases per 100,000.
In addition to differences in gender-specific cancers such as prostate, uterine, and ovarian cancers, the ministry noted variations between males and females in other reported cancers. Lung and bladder cancers were more prevalent among males, while breast and thyroid cancers were more common among females.
The ministry also revealed that cancer was the second leading cause of death in the West Bank in 2024 after ischemic heart disease. Of the total 9,007 deaths recorded, 1,639 were attributed to cancer, accounting for 18.2 percent of all deaths.
Cancer-related deaths were higher among males, with 936 deaths, compared with 703 deaths among females.
M.N
