Israeli Drone Strike Kills Palestinian Doctor in Northern Gaza

GAZA CITY: A Palestinian doctor was killed by an Israeli drone strike in the northern Gaza Strip as he was en route to his workplace at Al-Awda Hospital. The incident adds to the ongoing toll on medical personnel and infrastructure amid prolonged conflict in the region. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Dr. Saeed Joda, the only orthopedic specialist in the northern Gaza Strip, was fatally shot in the head by an Israeli drone. Local sources reported that Dr. Joda was traveling between Kamal Adwan Hospital and Al-Awda Hospital for a medical mission in Tel al-Zaatar in Jabalia when the incident occurred. He routinely commuted between the two hospitals due to a critical shortage of medical staff in the area. The tragedy is compounded by the recent loss of Dr. Joda's son, Majd, 24, who was killed a week prior while attempting to rescue family members from the rubble of a house bombed in Jabalia camp. The ongoing conflict has led to significant civilian casualties and has severely affecte d the region's healthcare system. The Israeli military's aggression and siege on the northern Gaza Strip have persisted for 70 consecutive days, resulting in approximately 4,000 Palestinian casualties. The blockade has led to dire shortages of essential resources such as water, food, and fuel. Since the onset of hostilities on October 7, 2023, the health sector has suffered substantial losses, with 1,047 medical personnel killed, over 310 detained, hundreds injured, and about 130 ambulances destroyed. The deliberate targeting of medical infrastructure has further restricted access to basic healthcare services for the population.