Indian UN Personnel Killed in Gaza During Israel-Hamas Conflict

An Indian national, formerly associated with the Indian Army and currently serving with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS), was tragically killed in Gaza. The incident occurred in Rafah when the UN vehicle he was in was targeted. This marks a somber milestone as he becomes the first international casualty among UN staff in Gaza since the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict post-October 7 terror attacks. Another DSS staff member sustained injuries during this attack as they were en route to the European Hospital in Rafah.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his profound sorrow upon learning about the incident, condemning all forms of attacks on UN personnel. He has called for a comprehensive investigation into the attack and extended his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased staff member. Amidst ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has seen significant civilian and humanitarian worker casualties, Guterres reiterated his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all hostages.

On social media platform X, Guterres highlighted the peril faced by UN staff in Gaza, noting that over 190 UN personnel have been killed since October 7. He emphasized the necessity of protecting humanitarian workers and condemned any attacks on them. The Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, during a press briefing, confirmed that this was indeed the first international casualty among UN staff in Gaza. Haq refrained from sharing further details about the victim's identity as notifications to relevant governments and family members were underway.

Haq also mentioned that the vehicle was part of their routine security assessment work, heading towards the European Hospital in Rafah at the time of the attack. Despite being early stages into gathering comprehensive details about how their vehicle was struck, Haq assured that reports from relevant authorities were expected soon. He revealed a distressing statistic that close to 190 UN personnel have been killed in Gaza since October 7, with most victims being national staff of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The UN is committed to establishing measures for accountability and working with ground authorities towards restitution for those killed. The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also expressed devastation over the death of a UN humanitarian worker and injury of another in Gaza. He called for a ceasefire and efforts towards peace.

In a related tragic event earlier this year, seven members of the World Central Kitchen were killed in an IDF strike in Gaza, among them Zomi Frankcom, who had Indian descent. The ongoing conflict has exacted a heavy toll on both sides. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), from October 7, 2023, to May 12, 2024, at least 35,091 Palestinians have been killed and 78,827 injured in Gaza. Meanwhile, more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 33 children, have lost their lives in Israel, with a significant number of casualties occurring on October 7 when Hamas launched attacks on Israel.