Israeli attack kills UN staffer in Gaza
May 14, 2024
Gaza [Palestine], May 14: The UN confirmed on Monday that an Israeli attack killed the organisation's first foreign staff member in Israel's war on Gaza.
Screengrabs from video obtained and verified by Al Jazeera showed heavy damage to a clearly marked UN vehicle after it came under fire by Israeli forces.
A spokesperson for the secretary-general confirmed that there were two individuals in Rafah in a UN-marked vehicle on their way to the European Hospital there as part of their duties.
The UN said they work for the Department of Safety and Security and that they came under fire, and one of them was killed, and that person is an international staff member of the UN.
The UN did not confirm what country the individual was from as it was still waiting to inform family members.
The second individual was injured with minor injuries.
Farhan Haq, a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said a UN staff member has been killed when "their vehicle was struck as they travelled to the European Hospital in Rafah this morning".
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security staff member and an injury to another DSS staff member," Haq said.
"The secretary-general condemns all attacks on UN personnel and calls for a full investigation," he added.
Haq said during a news conference that the total number of UN staff killed in Gaza since October 7 has reached 190.
He said the Rafah incident could be characterised as an attack.
The Government Media Office in Gaza has condemned the Israeli army for killing a foreign UN employee and injuring another staffer in Rafah while they were riding in a United Nations vehicle.
"They were targeted while they were riding in a United Nations vehicle bearing the United Nations flag and United Nations insignia", a statement from the office says.
The statement shared on Telegram demanded "an end to the war of genocide" and blamed the US administration for Israel's "war crimes".
Source: Qatar Tribune
