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First international UN staff member killed in Gaza attack
While AFP has not confirmed the nationality of the person killed, reports say the personnel was Indian.
Thousands fled northern Gaza on May.14 as renewed shelling pounded areas where Israel alleges Hamas militants have regrouped. / AFP
A UN security services member was killed in an attack on a vehicle in Gaza on May.13, a spokesperson said, adding the death was the first international UN employee killed in the Palestinian territory since the war began.
UN chief Antonio Guterres "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 traveled to the European Hospital in Rafah," said his deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq.
It was "the first international casualty" for the UN since the start of the Israeli offensive in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas attack of Oct.7, Haq said, recalling that some 190 Palestinian UN employees have been killed, mainly staff of the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA).
"The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on UN personnel and calls for a full investigation," Haq said.
The spokesman did not immediately release the nationality of the person killed.
"I don't have the full details of whether this was part of a large convoy or not, I believe it was in a convoy that was moving, and this was the DSS vehicle that was hit," he said.
However, several agencies have reported that the personnel killed was Indian.
The DSS oversees the security of UN agencies and programs in more than 130 countries around the world.
Today a @UN vehicle was struck in Gaza, killing one of our colleagues & injuring another.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) May 13, 2024
More than 190 UN staff have been killed in Gaza.
Humanitarian workers must be protected.
I condemn all attacks on UN personnel and reiterate my urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian…
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