As the Israel-Hamas war has entered its seventh month since it began in October 2023, an Indian personnel working with the United Nations was on Monday killed in Gaza when the vehicle he was travelling in came under attack in Rafah. This marks the “first international” casualty for the UN since the Israel-Hamas conflict began following the October 7 attacks.
Although the identity of the victim has not been revealed yet, it is said that he was a staff member of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS). The victim was from India and a former Indian Army personnel, news agency PTI reported.
The attack happened when the UN vehicle was on its way to the European Hospital in Rafah. Another DSS staffer also suffered injuries in the incident.
UN Secretary General Expresses Grief
Following the incident, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed that he 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" on Monday morning.
According to a statement issued by the Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, Guterres condemned all the attacks on UN personnel and demanded a full investigation. He also sent 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,” the statement added.
Guterres also wrote on X that the UN vehicle was struck in Gaza, “killing one of our colleagues & injuring another,” adding that more than 190 UN staff have been killed in Gaza.
While responding to questions on the incident, Haq said during a press conference: “We are in the process of informing the relevant governments and the relevant family members, so I wouldn't share any names or nationalities.”
He added that they were “international staff," confirming that "this is, in fact, the first international UN casualty."
While there have been international casualties involving workers for the World Central Kitchen in Gaza, Haq said that “of UN staff, I believe I've not been previously aware of an international casualty.”
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The Deputy Spokesman also added that the vehicle was headed to the hospital “as part of their regular work, they go to different locations to assess security conditions. And this was the European hospital in Rafah.”
Talking about the details regarding how the UN vehicle was struck, Haq said: “This happened fairly recently. We're still accumulating details. We expect to get reports, including from the relevant authorities.”
Haq also said that around 190 UN personnel have lost their lives in Gaza since October 7 and “most of them national staff of the UN Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA.”
UN is going to set up measures for accountability. A lot of that… requires ultimately for an end to the conflict so that we can work these out, but we will be working with the authorities on the ground to get a restitution for all of those who have been killed; Haq said, adding that he did not have the details of whether the vehicle was part of a large convoy.
“I believe it was in a convoy that was moving, and this was the DSS vehicle that was hit; he said.
What Ruchira Kamboj Said At 10th Emergency Special Session Of UNGA
During the 10th Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Palestine, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, said: "The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children. The resulting humanitarian crisis is simply unacceptable. We have strongly condemned the deaths of civilians in the conflict. International law and international humanitarian law must be respected by everyone under all circumstances."