The Israeli military has confirmed that its troops killed a United Nations (UN) worker in the Gaza Strip due to a tragic error during an airstrike. This statement comes after initial denials of responsibility for the incident that occurred on March 19 in Deir al-Balah. The UN worker, Bulgarian national Marin Valev Marinov, lost his life when a UN compound was struck, resulting in injuries to five other staff members as well.
After reviewing the incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the building had been misidentified as having an "enemy presence." They expressed regret over the grave error and promised to implement further measures to prevent any such incidents in the future. Additionally, they extended condolences to the family of the deceased worker.
This incident unfolded amid heightened hostilities, just a day after Israel had resumed its offensive against Hamas following the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire. In response to the tragedy, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for thorough investigations, emphasizing that the locations of UN facilities should be respected according to international law.
As the situation continues to escalate, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has condemned the attack as anything but accidental, highlighting concerns about the safety of humanitarian workers operating in conflict zones. This shocking admission from the IDF has drawn further scrutiny and criticism of the military's operations in Gaza, where violence has surged, resulting in numerous civilian casualties.
