The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
‘The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS) staff member and injury to another DSS staffer when their UN vehicle was struck as they travelled to the European Hospital in Rafah this morning.
The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on UN personnel and calls for a full investigation. He sends his condolences to the family of the fallen staff member.
With the conflict in Gaza continuing to take a heavy toll — not only on civilians, but also on humanitarian workers — the Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release of all hostages.’
Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale (Retd) (46), a retired Indian army officer who was staff member of the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) was killed and a Jordanian was injured when their vehicle was hit as they travelled to the European Hospital in Gaza. Colonel Kale who had served with the 11 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, retired from the Indian army in 2022 and he joined the UNDSS. This was the first such UN death in the Gaza conflict of an international UN staff member and it brings the total number of UN personnel killed in the conflict since last Oct to 191. The casualty was a senior projects officer and he was killed on Sunday in an Israeli strike in the central town of Deir Al Balah, after leaving Rafah. Footage posted on social media shows a marked UN vehicle with multiple bullet holes outside the European Hospital.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed it had received a report from the UN Department of Safety and Security that said two of its workers were injured in the Rafah area – in southern Gaza – on Monday.
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
‘The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS) staff member and injury to another DSS staffer when their UN vehicle was struck as they travelled to the European Hospital in Rafah this morning.
The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on UN personnel and calls for a full investigation. He sends his condolences to the family of the fallen staff member.
With the conflict in Gaza continuing to take a heavy toll — not only on civilians, but also on humanitarian workers — the Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release of all hostages.’
Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale (Retd) (46), a retired Indian army officer who was staff member of the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) was killed and a Jordanian was injured when their vehicle was hit as they travelled to the European Hospital in Gaza. Colonel Kale who had served with the 11 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, retired from the Indian army in 2022 and he joined the UNDSS. This was the first such UN death in the Gaza conflict of an international UN staff member and it brings the total number of UN personnel killed in the conflict since last Oct to 191. The casualty was a senior projects officer and he was killed on Sunday in an Israeli strike in the central town of Deir Al Balah, after leaving Rafah. Footage posted on social media shows a marked UN vehicle with multiple bullet holes outside the European Hospital.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed it had received a report from the UN Department of Safety and Security that said two of its workers were injured in the Rafah area – in southern Gaza – on Monday. The IDF added that the incident was under review.
