Latest bone surgeon killed in northern Gaza, Palestinians say

A doctor believed to be the last remaining orthopedic surgeon in northern Gaza has been killed in an Israeli strike, according to Palestinian officials.

Dr. Sayeed Joudeh died on Thursday while on his way to work.

He was a surgeon at the Kamal Adwan and al-Awda hospitals in northern Gaza.

The Israeli military said it was not aware of the incident but was investigating.

Grandpa had come out of retirement to help during the war.

Last month, at a press conference at Kamal Adwan Hospital, he held up a sign that said “Save us.”

It didn’t work.

“When he was heading to Al Awda hospital to evaluate a patient, one of the tanks shot him directly,” according to Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan hospital.

“Unfortunately, he died instantly.”

But some witnesses say Dr. Joudeh was shot by a drone.

Israel does not allow unrestricted access to Gaza for foreign journalists.

But from Jerusalem I spoke to Louise Wateridge of the United Nations’ main aid agency in Gaza.

“It’s devastating for his family. It’s devastating for people in the north who rely on so few doctors,” Ms Wateridge said.

“Hospitals in the Gaza Strip are no longer hospitals,” he said.

“There are no health services. There are almost no doctors. There is no medical equipment. Patients die unnecessarily.”

Wateridge described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as apocalyptic.

For more than two months, much of northern Gaza has been under Israeli siege and bombardment.

Israel says it is attacking Hamas operatives who have been regrouping there.

On October 7 of last year, Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

In retaliation, Israel launched a massive operation inside the Gaza Strip with the stated goal of eliminating Hamas.

So far, at least 44,875 people have been killed and more than 100,000 wounded, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The UN considers these figures to be reliable.

At least 30 of them were killed – and another 50 wounded – in an Israeli attack on a post office converted into a shelter for displaced people in central Gaza on Thursday night, according to local doctors.

Locals say Gazans displaced by the 14-month conflict were taking refuge there and that many members of an extended family had been killed.

The Israeli military said it was targeting a senior Islamic Jihad member behind attacks on Israeli civilians and troops.

He accused the armed group of exploiting Gaza civilians as human shields for its activities.