As part of its “genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip”, Israel routinely targets medical teams in the north in an effort to destroy the health system as casualties from Israel’s bombardment pile up, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has said.

According to Euro-Med, the Israeli occupation army targeted Dr Saeed Joda on Thursday as he was travelling from Kamal Adwan Hospital to Al-Awda Hospital to treat patients.

“He was killed when a Quadcopter fired at him, striking him in the head and demonstrating that his killing was premeditated and deliberate, especially given that he was the only orthopaedic physician in the northern Gaza Strip,” it noted.

Israel attacked Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia more than 20 times in the past 10 days, injuring several patients, medical personnel, and their companions, the statement highlighted. An Israeli drone targeted and killed Ali Al-Qar’a, a paramedic working in the area, on Dec 8, it added.

Euro-Med Monitor’s review of the Israeli military’s targeting records and victim lists revealed a “systematic, widespread policy of killing and assassinating Palestinian elites and those with competencies in various sectors”.

The number of Palestinian medical personnel who have been killed since Oct 7, 2023 is 1,057 and more than 135 scientists and academics have also been killed, the monitor stated.