Photo credit: www.bbc.com
Israel’s military has acknowledged that a United Nations (UN) worker was killed by tank fire in the Gaza Strip, a conclusion that contradicts its previous statements claiming no responsibility for the incident, which occurred on March 19.
The UN facility in Deir al-Balah was hit, resulting in the death of Bulgarian UN staff member Marin Valev Marinov and injuries to five other UN personnel. Initially, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated they had not targeted the location.
However, the IDF later shared that its investigation revealed troops had mistakenly identified the building as harboring an “enemy presence.” In a statement, the military said, “The building was struck due to assessed enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a UN facility.”
The initial findings have been communicated to the UN, and a comprehensive report is expected to follow. The IDF expressed regret over the incident, emphasizing its commitment to learning from this event in order to prevent future occurrences. It stated, “We express our deep sorrow for the loss and send our condolences to the family.”
This incident occurred just after Israel resumed military operations against Hamas following a two-month ceasefire. On the day after the strike, UN Secretary General António Guterres called for a thorough investigation. He highlighted that the locations of UN premises are known to all parties involved in the conflict and that they are mandated by international law to safeguard them.
The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) characterized the attack as deliberate, asserting that “explosive ordnance was dropped or fired” at a guesthouse located in an isolated area. UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva stated that this was “not an accident.”
On the day of the incident, the IDF refuted assertions regarding their involvement, urging media representatives to exercise caution regarding unverified claims. Verified footage later showed injured individuals, some wearing blue UN flak jackets, being transported to a hospital by ambulance.
In a related event, the IDF also admitted this week to “professional failures” that resulted in the deaths of 15 emergency workers in a separate attack in Gaza last month.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, the escalation in violence since the renewed military action has led to at least 1,978 fatalities, with a reported 50 casualties from Israeli strikes on a recent Thursday alone. Concurrently, Israel continues to exert military pressure on Hamas to secure the release of 59 hostages, of whom 24 are believed to still be alive.
Humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza has been halted for the past seven weeks, raising concerns from the UN about the dire impact on the civilian population. The Israeli offensive is a response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 251 others. The ongoing conflict has led to more than 51,300 deaths in Gaza, as reported by the territory’s health ministry.
Source
www.bbc.com