Why did Israel kill the last orthopaedic surgeon in northern Gaza?

Dr Saeed Joudeh, the only orthopaedic specialist in northern Gaza, was fatally shot in the head by an Israeli quadcopter last Thursday while travelling between Al Awda Hospital and Kamal Adwan Hospital.

According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, Joudeh was hit directly and died from the injury. He had previously been injured two weeks earlier. Joudeh regularly commuted between the two hospitals to address severe staff shortages.

His killing is not merely the loss of a single physician but a calculated act within a broader strategy to incapacitate Gaza's healthcare system - critical not only for treating injuries but for enabling the population to heal, recover, and sustain resilience.

With Joudeh's death, the number of medical sector staff killed has now reached 1,057, according to the Ministry of Health.

Read more: Why did Israel kill the last orthopaedic surgeon in northern Gaza?