Latest news with #MarinValevMarinov
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After initially denying responsibility, IDF says its tank fire killed U.N. worker
April 25 (UPI) -- After initially denying responsibility for last month's death of a United Nations staff worker in central Gaza, Israel's military has acknowledged that it killed Marin Valev Marinov when it attacked a U.N. guesthouse. Marinov, a 51-year-old Bulgarian national and member of the U.N. office for Project Services, was killed and nine others, including six U.N. workers, were wounded when the Israel Defense Forces attacked two U.N. guesthouses in Deir al Balah on March 19, a day after Israel resumed fighting in Gaza following a 42-day cease-fire. On Thursday, the IDF said in a statement to Telegram that initial findings from the investigation into the attack show that "the fatality was caused by tank fire from IDF troops operating in the area." "The building was struck due to assessed enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a U.N. facility," it said. "The IDF regrets this serious incident and continues to conduct thorough review processes to draw operational lessons and evaluate additional measures to prevent such events in the future," it added. "We express our deep sorrow for the loss and send our condolences to the family." Jorge Moreira da Silva, the executive director of UNOPS, which has been providing infrastructure, procurement and project management services to Gaza amid the war, said Thursday in a statement that they "acknowledge" the IDF'S findings, saying they are "consistent with known facts to the U.N." Da Silva also reiterated the U.N.'s refutation of the IDF claim that the buildings attacked were not identified as U.N. facilities, saying "the location of these premises were well known by all parties. "U.N. workers should never be targeted," he said. "Attacks against humanitarian premises are a breach of international law, and U.N. personnel and its premises must be protected by all sides." Stephan Dujarric, the U.N. spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, similarly told reporters Thursday that Israel has communicated the findings of its investigation, though they are calling on the IDF for accountability, not just for this incident but for each incident where a U.N. worker has been killed in Gaza and where U.N. infrastructure has come under attack. In the days following the attack that killed Marinov, Guterres said that based on available information, it was caused by an Israeli tank and the location struck was a U.N. compound "well-known to the parities to the conflict." Israel initially denied responsibility for the attack. In response to Guterres' comments, Oren Marmorstein, spokesman for Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: "the initial examination found no connection to IDF activity whatsoever" chastised the U.N. director-general's comments as "baseless slander against Israel." "No standards, no professionalism, -- nothing stands in the way of the U.N. Secretary-General in another attempt to smear Israel," he said on X at the time. The Thursday announcement comes days after the IDF admitted Sunday that it had wrongly killed a U.N. worker and 14 others when its forces opened fire on them. According to Guterres, at least 280 U.N. workers have been killed since the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7, 2023.
The National
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
IDF admits troops killed UN worker in Gaza Strip with tank fire
Bulgarian UN worker Marin Valev Marinov was killed while five people were injured in the explosion at a UN Office for Project Services (Unops) facility in Deir al-Balah on March 19. The strike came in the day after Israel restarted its offensive in Gaza, breaking a two-month ceasefire. At the time, a spokesperson for Israel's military said it was not responsible for the morning strike. READ MORE: Donald Trump attacks Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Ukraine talks downgraded But. on Thursday the IDF said initial findings of its investigation into the incident indicated its troops had in fact killed the UN worker after wrongly identifying the building as containing an "enemy presence". It said in a statement: "The building was struck due to assessed enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a UN facility." It comes after an Israeli investigation into the killings of 15 Palestinian medics last month in Gaza by Israeli forces said on Sunday it found a chain of 'professional failures' and a deputy commander has been fired. The shootings outraged many in the international community, with some calling the killings a war crime. Medical workers have special protection under international humanitarian law. The International Red Cross/Red Crescent called it the deadliest attack on its personnel in eight years. Israel at first claimed that the medics' vehicles did not have emergency signals on when troops opened fire but later backtracked. Mobile phone video recovered from one medic contradicted Israel's initial account. Footage shows the ambulances had lights flashing and logos visible as they pulled up to help another ambulance that earlier came under fire. The military investigation found that the deputy battalion commander acted under the incorrect assumption that all of the ambulances belonged to Hamas militants.
Saudi Gazette
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Israeli military admits its troops killed UN worker in Gaza Strip
TEL AVIV — Israel's military has admitted killing a United Nations (UN) worker with tank fire, having previously denied responsibility, in an incident in the Gaza Strip last month. After a UN staff member was killed when a UN compound in Deir al-Balah was damaged on 19 March, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had not struck the site. But the IDF said on Thursday that the initial findings of its investigation into the incident indicated its troops had in fact killed the UN worker after wrongly identifying the building as containing an "enemy presence". It said in a statement: "The building was struck due to assessed enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a UN facility." These preliminary findings have been shared with the UN and the full conclusion will also be provided, it said. It added: "The IDF regrets this serious incident and continues to conduct thorough review processes to draw operational lessons and evaluate additional measures to prevent such events in the future. "We express our deep sorrow for the loss and send our condolences to the family." The incident, which killed Bulgarian UN worker Marin Valev Marinov and seriously injured five other UN personnel, came a day after Israel renewed its offensive against Hamas after a two-month ceasefire collapsed. At the time, UN Secretary General António Guterres called for a full investigation into the incident, while a spokesperson said: "The locations of all UN premises are known to the parties to the conflict, who are bound by international law to protect them and maintain their absolute inviolability." Following the attack, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) said that "explosive ordnance was dropped or fired" at a guesthouse, which was in an "isolated" location. Its executive director, Jorge Moreira da Silva, said it was "not an accident". The IDF said in a statement on the day of the attack: "Contrary to reports, the IDF did not strike a UN compound in Deir el-Balah. The IDF calls on media outlets to act with caution regarding unverified reports." Footage verified by the BBC showed injured people - two wearing blue UN flak jackets - arriving at a hospital in an ambulance and a UN car. Separately, the IDF said earlier this week that "professional failures" had led to the killing of 15 emergency workers in an incident in Gaza last month. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says at least 1,978 people have been killed since Israel renewed its offensive on the territory, with at least 50 reported killed by Israeli strikes on Thursday. Israel says it is putting military pressure on Hamas to release the 59 hostages it is still holding, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. It has also blocked all deliveries of humanitarian aid and other supplies to Gaza for seven weeks. The UN says this is "further depriving people of the means for survival and undermining every aspect of civilian life". The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. More than 51,300 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry. — BBC
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israeli military admits its troops killed UN worker in Gaza Strip
Israel's military has admitted killing a United Nations (UN) worker with tank fire, having previously denied responsibility, in an incident in the Gaza Strip last month. After a UN staff member was killed when a UN compound in Deir al-Balah was damaged on 19 March, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had not struck the site. But the IDF said on Thursday that the initial findings of its investigation into the incident indicated its troops had in fact killed the UN worker after wrongly identifying the building as containing an "enemy presence". It said in a statement: "The building was struck due to assessed enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a UN facility." These preliminary findings have been shared with the UN and the full conclusion will also be provided, it said. It added: "The IDF regrets this serious incident and continues to conduct thorough review processes to draw operational lessons and evaluate additional measures to prevent such events in the future. "We express our deep sorrow for the loss and send our condolences to the family." The incident, which killed Bulgarian UN worker Marin Valev Marinov and seriously injured five other UN personnel, came a day after Israel renewed its offensive against Hamas after a two-month ceasefire collapsed. At the time, UN Secretary General António Guterres called for a full investigation into the incident, while a spokesperson said: "The locations of all UN premises are known to the parties to the conflict, who are bound by international law to protect them and maintain their absolute inviolability." Following the attack, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) said that "explosive ordnance was dropped or fired" at a guesthouse, which was in an "isolated" location. Its executive director, Jorge Moreira da Silva, said it was "not an accident". The IDF said in a statement on the day of the attack: "Contrary to reports, the IDF did not strike a UN compound in Deir el-Balah. The IDF calls on media outlets to act with caution regarding unverified reports." Footage verified by the BBC showed injured people - two wearing blue UN flak jackets - arriving at a hospital in an ambulance and a UN car. Anti-Hamas protests on rise in Gaza as group's iron grip slips Gaza health ministry denies manipulating death toll figures Red Cross outraged over killing of medics by Israeli forces in Gaza Separately, the IDF said earlier this week that "professional failures" had led to the killing of 15 emergency workers in an incident in Gaza last month. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says at least 1,978 people have been killed since Israel renewed its offensive on the territory, with at least 50 reported killed by Israeli strikes on Thursday. Israel says it is putting military pressure on Hamas to release the 59 hostages it is still holding, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. It has also blocked all deliveries of humanitarian aid and other supplies to Gaza for seven weeks. The UN says this is "further depriving people of the means for survival and undermining every aspect of civilian life". The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. More than 51,300 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Israeli military admits its troops killed UN worker in Gaza Strip
Israel's military has admitted killing a United Nations (UN) worker with tank fire, having previously denied responsibility, in an incident in the Gaza Strip last a UN staff member was killed when a UN compound in Deir al-Balah was damaged on 19 March, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had not struck the the IDF said on Thursday that the initial findings of its investigation into the incident indicated its troops had in fact killed the UN worker after wrongly identifying the building as containing an "enemy presence".It said in a statement: "The building was struck due to assessed enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a UN facility." These preliminary findings have been shared with the UN and the full conclusion will also be provided, it added: "The IDF regrets this serious incident and continues to conduct thorough review processes to draw operational lessons and evaluate additional measures to prevent such events in the future."We express our deep sorrow for the loss and send our condolences to the family."The incident, which killed Bulgarian UN worker Marin Valev Marinov and seriously injured five other UN personnel, came a day after Israel renewed its offensive against Hamas after a two-month ceasefire the time, UN Secretary General António Guterres called for a full investigation into the incident, while a spokesperson said: "The locations of all UN premises are known to the parties to the conflict, who are bound by international law to protect them and maintain their absolute inviolability."Following the attack, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) said that "explosive ordnance was dropped or fired" at a guesthouse, which was in an "isolated" location. Its executive director, Jorge Moreira da Silva, said it was "not an accident".The IDF said in a statement on the day of the attack: "Contrary to reports, the IDF did not strike a UN compound in Deir el-Balah. The IDF calls on media outlets to act with caution regarding unverified reports."Footage verified by the BBC showed injured people - two wearing blue UN flak jackets - arriving at a hospital in an ambulance and a UN car. Separately, the IDF said earlier this week that "professional failures" had led to the killing of 15 emergency workers in an incident in Gaza last Hamas-run health ministry says at least 1,978 people have been killed since Israel renewed its offensive on the territory, with at least 50 reported killed by Israeli strikes on says it is putting military pressure on Hamas to release the 59 hostages it is still holding, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. It has also blocked all deliveries of humanitarian aid and other supplies to Gaza for seven weeks. The UN says this is "further depriving people of the means for survival and undermining every aspect of civilian life".The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken than 51,300 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.
