Pune: Former Indian Army Officer Killed in Israeli Strike on UN Vehicle in Gaza
Kalyani Nagar, 14th May 2024: A former Indian army officer working as a UN security officer lost his life in an Israeli strike on a vehicle marked with UN flags in Rafah while en route to a hospital in southern Gaza on Monday. The UN confirmed the death of one of its staff members and the injury of another in the attack on the official vehicle.
The deceased has been identified as Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale, a resident of Kalyani Nagar, Pune, who had recently joined the United Nations as a Security Coordination officer, following his premature retirement from the Indian Army in 2022, according to informed sources.
The announcement of Kale’s death was made by Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, who also informed reporters that the Israeli authorities were notified of the movement of all UN convoys and reiterated that all UN vehicles were clearly marked.
This marks the first international casualty for the United Nations since the beginning of the current Gaza conflict on October 7th. Prior to this incident, approximately 190 UN staff members had been killed in Gaza.
Expressing his deep sorrow, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for a full investigation into the incident and urged for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, emphasizing the need for the release of all hostages.
The statement released by the UN did not attribute responsibility for the attack on the vehicle.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the vehicle was struck in an active combat zone and that the incident is under review. However, they claimed they were not informed of the route of the vehicle prior to the attack.
The recent escalation in violence in Gaza was triggered by a terror attack by Hamas on October 7th, prompting Israel to launch a military operation in the region. Since then, over 1,200 individuals have been killed, with 252 taken hostage by Hamas. In response, more than 35,090 individuals, mostly women and children, have lost their lives in Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Despite calls for a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not signaled a willingness to halt the military operation.
