In brief
Palestinian officials report that Dr. Sayeed Joudeh, the final orthopaedic surgeon in northern Gaza, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike, exacerbating the already dire medical crisis in the region.
Dr. Sayeed Joudeh, a doctor recognized as the last remaining orthopaedic surgeon in northern Gaza, was killed on Thursday when an Israeli military strike targeted him on his way to work, according to Palestinian sources. Joudeh, who had come out of retirement to assist during the ongoing conflict, worked at both the Kamal Adwan and al-Awda hospitals. Eyewitness accounts conflict regarding the circumstances of his death; while Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, stated that Joudeh was struck directly by tank fire, other reports claim a drone was responsible. The Israeli military expressed it was not aware of the incident but confirmed it was looking into the matter.Louise Wateridge from the United Nations aid agency emphasized the devastating impact of Joudeh's death on both his family and the crucial medical services in the area, stating, "Hospitals in the Gaza Strip are not hospitals anymore." She painted a bleak picture of the healthcare crisis there, highlighting insufficient sanitation, lack of medical professionals, and severe shortages of equipment, which have resulted in avoidable deaths among patients.The humanitarian situation in the region has been described as apocalyptic, as northern Gaza has faced heavy bombardment and a blockade for more than two months. Israel claims its military actions aim to eliminate Hamas operatives regrouping in the area, following a significant outbreak of violence that began on October 7, when a Hamas-led attack in southern Israel resulted in over 1,200 fatalities. Since then, significant retaliatory measures by Israel have led to reports of at least 44,875 fatalities and over 100,000 injuries, predominantly among civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which is acknowledged by the United Nations for reliability.Recent violence included an airstrike that reportedly killed at least 30 people and injured 50 more at a makeshift shelter for those displaced by the conflict. Locals assert that many of the victims belonged to a single extended family. The Israeli military clarified that their operations targeted a senior member of Islamic Jihad, accusing the group of using civilians as human shields amidst the ongoing violence.
