Gaza Strip conflict: Israeli army admits its troops killed a UN worker
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that its troops mistakenly fired on a UN facility in Deir al-Balah, killing one worker and seriously injuring five others. The attack occurred during a resumption of the military offensive in Gaza.
The Israeli military has admitted responsibility for the death of Marin Valev Marinov, a UN employee, during a tank attack on a facility in the Gaza Strip on March 19. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initially denied involvement, but a preliminary investigation revealed that the building was mistakenly targeted after being identified as a suspected enemy presence.
The incident occurred in the town of Deir al-Balah, one day after a two-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas broke down. Israeli authorities stated that the building was not recognized as a UN facility and said they were reviewing procedures to prevent similar errors from recurring.
Investigation and Official Response
In its statement, the IDF expressed its regret for what happened and noted that the results of its investigation had been shared with the United Nations. It added that it will continue an operational review to assess additional preventive measures. The UN, for its part, reiterated that the parties to the conflict know the location of all their facilities and have a legal obligation to protect them.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a thorough investigation into the attack, while Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), affirmed that it was not an accident. The attack left five workers injured in addition to the deceased, and the attacked complex was reportedly located in an isolated area.
Conflict Context and Humanitarian Consequences
The attack on UN personnel occurred in the context of a renewed Israeli military offensive in Gaza, launched after the collapse of the ceasefire. Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack that left 1,200 dead in Israel and 251 kidnapped, more than 51,300 people have died in Gaza, according to the Ministry of Health of the Hamas-controlled enclave.
Israel has intensified its military operations to press for the release of 59 hostages, of whom 24 are believed to be still alive. It has also blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into the territory for the past seven weeks. The UN warns that this situation has worsened the civil crisis in Gaza, leaving the population without access to basic resources for survival.