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On December 12, 2024, Dr. Saeed Joudeh, the only orthopedic surgeon in northern Gaza, was tragically killed by Israeli forces while on his way to Al-Awda Hospital to provide critical medical care to the injured.
This incident highlights a disturbing trend of targeted violence against healthcare professionals in the region, drawing sharp condemnation from Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC), which views these actions as profound human rights violations.
Since the onset of conflict on October 7, 2023, the toll on healthcare workers has been devastating, with Palestinian statistics reporting 1,750 fatalities among medical personnel. WJWC emphasizes the urgent need for international intervention to protect the remaining healthcare facilities and staff, as the ongoing assaults have led to the closure of over 150 hospitals and health institutions in Gaza. Currently, only two hospitals operate in northern Gaza: Kamal Adwan Hospital and Al-Awda Hospital.
Dr. Joudeh was struck by an Israeli drone while traveling between these hospitals, underscoring the severe risks faced by medical workers in conflict zones. Despite being injured two weeks earlier, he remained committed to his humanitarian duties.
WJWC expresses profound sorrow at the death of Dr. Joudeh, a victim of the ongoing genocidal strategy targeting essential services and civilian life. The repeated attacks on Kamal Adwan Hospital, culminating in the December 11th airstrike on the Abu Al-Tarabish family home resulting in 22 deaths, exemplify this horrific pattern.
This violence underscores the urgent need for accountability and the protection of civilians. The impunity enjoyed by Israeli leaders, coupled with the support of the occupying government and its military, emboldens these acts of aggression. WJWC demands immediate international intervention to safeguard human rights and civilian lives and to hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable.
Referencing UN Resolution 2675, WJWC insists that hospitals are not legitimate military targets and that any assault on medical facilities and personnel constitutes a serious breach of international law. The ongoing impunity of Israeli leaders, backed by their government, further emboldens these violations.
In light of the recent airstrike that killed 22 members of the Abu Tarabesh family near Kamal Adwan Hospital, WJWC calls for urgent action from the international community. They demand accountability for these attacks and a commitment to safeguarding human rights and humanitarian services in Gaza, emphasizing that the ongoing violations represent a significant failure to protect civilians and uphold international law.
