GENEVA: The United Nations said on Tuesday that it had informed the Israeli authorities of the movements of a vehicle carrying UN staff members which was hit in southern Gaza, killing an Indian national.
According to UN spokesperson Rolando Gomez, the attack occurred on Monday, marking the first death of a UN international employee in the Palestinian territory since Israel launched relentless bombardment campaign over seven months ago.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Col Waibhav Kale, working for the UN Department of Safety and Security in Gaza,” expressed India’s mission to the UN in New York, confirming the identity of the deceased. “Our deepest condolences are with the family during this difficult time.”
The vehicle, en route to the European Hospital in Rafah, was struck, resulting in the death of one UN security services member and injuring another, Gomez stated. Both persons were part of the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS).
“The UN informs Israeli authorities of the movement of all of our convoys. That has been the case in any theatre of operation. This is a standard operating procedure,” Gomez affirmed, emphasizing that the vehicle was clearly marked as belonging to the UN.
“This is a sheer illustration that there’s really nowhere safe in Gaza at the moment,” he lamented.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a thorough investigation into the attack, emphasizing the need for accountability. “International humanitarian workers are not targets, so such attacks must end,” Gomez reiterated.
While this marked the first time a UN international employee was killed in the Gaza conflict, several local staff have lost their lives. According to UN figures, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has lost 188 of its 13,000 staff in Gaza alone.
“No one is safe in Gaza, including aid workers,” remarked UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, emphasizing the precarious situation faced by humanitarian workers in the region.
Since October 7 last year, at least 35,173 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the ongoing relentless Israeli bombardment in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
