Israel admits killing UN worker in Gaza after weeks of denial
Israel’s army has confessed that it killed a United Nations (UN) employee with tank fire, despite denying it earlier, in an attack in the Gaza Strip last month. Following the death of a UN employee when a UN complex in Deir al-Balah was hit on 19 March, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it had not fired at the location.
On Thursday, the IDF announced that preliminary reports of its own probe into the incident suggested its soldiers did, in fact, kill the UN employee after they had mistakenly identified the facility as having an enemy facility within. It stated in a release: “The building was hit based on evaluated adversary sight and was not recognised by the parties as a UN site.”
These initial conclusions have been presented to the UN, and the complete findings will also be submitted, it stated. It further stated:
“The IDF regrets this serious incident and continues to conduct thorough review processes to draw operational lessons and evaluate additional measures to prevent such events in the future.”
“We express our deep sorrow for the loss and send our condolences to the family.” The incident that resulted in the death of Bulgarian UN employee Marin Valev Marinov and left five other UN personnel seriously injured occurred just one day after Israel resumed its military campaign against Hamas following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire.
When the incident occurred, UN Secretary-General António Guterres demanded a thorough inquiry into the matter, while a representative stated:
“The addresses of all UN buildings are understood to the parties to the dispute, who are under international law obligated to guard them and uphold their fundamental inviolability.”
After the episode, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) reported that “explosive ordnance was dropped or fired” at a guesthouse, which was located in an “isolated” area. Its executive director, Jorge Moreira da Silva, described it as “not an accident”. The IDF issued a declaration on the day of the attack: “In contradiction to reports, the IDF did not hit a UN compound in Deir el-Balah. The IDF requests media organisations to exercise caution with regard to unconfirmed information.”
Video authenticated by the BBC captured wounded individuals – two of whom were sporting blue UN flak coats – being taken to a clinic in an ambulance and a UN vehicle. Independently, the IDF stated earlier this week that “proficient losses” had resulted in the deaths of 15 emergency responders in an incident in Gaza last month.
Gaza’s Hamas-administered health ministry reports that around 1,978 individuals have died since Israel resumed its attack on the area, with at least 50 reported dead from Israeli attacks on Thursday. Israel states it is applying military pressure to Hamas to free the 59 captives it still holds, 24 of whom are thought to be active.
For seven weeks, it has obstructed the delivery of humanitarian aid and other supplies to Gaza. The UN states this is “further depriving people of the means for survival and undermining every aspect of civilian life. “
