Dr. Sayeed Joudeh: A Lifeline Cut Short
Dr. Sayeed Joudeh, a grandfather and retired orthopaedic surgeon who returned to work amidst the Gaza war, was killed on Thursday, reportedly by Israeli tank fire, according to Palestinian officials.
Dr. Joudeh was en route to al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza to evaluate a patient when he was struck. “One of the tanks fired on him directly,” said Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, where Dr. Joudeh also worked.
Some eyewitnesses, however, claim a drone was responsible for his death.
Unimaginable Loss for Gaza’s Healthcare System
Dr. Joudeh’s death leaves northern Gaza without a single orthopaedic surgeon—a devastating blow to an already crippled healthcare system. Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed, with severe shortages of doctors, medical supplies, and functioning sanitation.
Louise Wateridge, from the UN’s primary aid agency in Gaza, lamented the loss:
“It’s devastating for his family. It’s devastating for people in the north who are relying on so few doctors.”
She described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “apocalyptic,” with hospitals barely operational due to relentless bombardment and lack of resources.
H3: A Region Under Siege
Northern Gaza has been under siege and heavy bombardment for over two months as Israeli forces target Hamas operatives regrouping in the region.
The conflict traces back to 7 October of last year, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel retaliated with a massive military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas.
So far, at least 44,875 people, predominantly civilians, have been killed, with over 100,000 injured, according to figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, corroborated by the UN.
Civilian Deaths Amid Targeted Strikes
In another tragic incident on Thursday night, 30 civilians were killed and 50 injured when an Israeli airstrike targeted a post office turned shelter in central Gaza, local medics reported. Many of the victims were members of an extended family displaced by the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military stated the strike aimed at a senior Islamic Jihad operative responsible for attacks on Israeli civilians and troops. It accused militant groups of using Gaza’s civilian population as human shields for their activities.
- External Link: Learn more about Gaza’s healthcare crisis
- Internal Link: Explore the impact of healthcare under conflict
