UN launches probe into deadly strike on Gaza staff members
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Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq says preliminary evaluations indicate the fatal strike was launched from a tank and hit the rear of a UN vehicle.
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A view of a damaged UN vehicle outside a hospital as a United Nations employee was killed in an attack on a vehicle in the Gaza Strip, on May 13, 2024. (Anadolu via AFP)
The United Nations has put together a fact-finding panel to investigate a deadly Israeli attack that targeted one of the body's vehicles and killed one staff member in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday.
Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed that preliminary evaluations indicate the fatal strike was launched from a tank and hit the rear of the vehicle.
The United Nations said Tuesday that it had informed the Israeli authorities of the movements of a vehicle carrying UN staff, which was hit in southern Gaza, killing an Indian security services member and injuring another, a Jordanian.
The incident marked the first death of a UN international employee in Gaza since the Israeli war on the Strip began more than seven months ago.
"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," spokesperson Rolando Gomez told a media briefing.
"This was the case yesterday [Monday] morning, so we have informed them. And it was a clearly marked UN vehicle."
He added, "This is a sheer illustration that there's really nowhere safe in Gaza at the moment."
The Israeli occupation military did not attribute responsibility for the strike but claimed that "an initial inquiry conducted indicates that the vehicle was hit in an area declared an active combat zone," alleging that its forces had "not been made aware of the route of the vehicle."
Gomez said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had called for a full investigation.
"Of course we want accountability. This is the ultimate aim of this investigation. International humanitarian workers are not targets, so such attacks must end," he said.
According to the United Nations, at least 254 of its aid workers have been killed since the start of the war on Gaza on October 7.
The United States also backed calls for a probe, with State Department spokesman Vedant Patel calling the strike "incredibly disturbing."
Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that Israeli occupation forces had repeatedly targeted known aid worker locations in Gaza, even after their coordinates were provided to Israeli authorities to ensure their protection.
The rights watchdog said that it had identified eight cases where aid convoys and premises were targeted, killing at least 15 people, including two children.
In all eight cases, the organizations had provided the coordinates to Israeli authorities, HRW said.
Read more: HRW: 'Israel' striking known aid worker locations
