IDF confirms fatal incident involving UN employee in gaza
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that a United Nations employee was killed due to tank fire during an incident in Deir al-Balah last month. Initially, the military maintained that no UN facility had been targeted, but a recent investigation led by Major General (res.) Yoav Har-Even revealed that the IDF unit misidentified the structure, believing it to harbor enemy combatants. The findings were presented to both the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and UN representatives.
"According to the evidence collected to date, the casualty resulted from tank fire by an IDF unit operating in the area", stated the military. Under the direction of Lt. Gen. Zamir, the investigation is set to conclude shortly, pending additional information. The IDF expressed regret for the incident and extended condolences to the family of the deceased.
On the day of the attack, reports indicated that the victims were members of a UN mine-clearance team. Eyewitness images showed personnel being transported to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza City for medical attention. In response to the attack, UN officials emphasized that the site was well known to the Israeli army and underscored the need to protect UN facilities, noting that strikes against them violate international law. They also reiterated their call for a ceasefire in the region".
Additionally, shortly after the Deir al-Balah event, another tragic incident occurred on the first day of escalated hostilities, where IDF fire in Tal al-Sultan claimed the lives of nine individuals, including medical personnel and a UNRWA employee. An IDF investigation into this strike indicated errors by a Golani Brigade unit but determined that there was no intentional wrongdoing, diverging from various allegations made by Palestinian sources and media outlets.
