DaysofPal- The Israeli military has admitted responsibility for the death of a United Nations staff member in the central Gaza Strip, confirming on Thursday that he was killed by Israeli tank fire during operations in the area.
In a statement regarding the March 19 incident, the army said, “The review conducted indicates that his death was caused by tank fire from Israeli army forces operating in the area.”
It added that “the building was struck due to the assessment of an enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a UN facility.” This is even though the coordinates of UN buildings had been reported in advance to the Israeli occupation forces.
The victim was Marin Marinov, a Bulgarian national working with the UN Office for Project Services. He was killed when two guest houses belonging to the international organization were hit in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his “deep shock” over the killing, and urged Israel to conduct a thorough and credible investigation.
Reacting to the incident, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Georgiev announced that Bulgaria had received an official apology from Tel Aviv. He emphasized that Sofia “will insist on fair compensation for Marinov’s family.”
Georgiev also stressed that protecting humanitarian workers must be a global priority, stating, “The protection of humanitarian workers is a top priority that must be guaranteed by the international community under international law.”
In a broader political fallout, the Bulgarian parliament saw heightened tensions as the Fazrajdani bloc, the country’s third-largest parliamentary group, submitted a no-confidence motion against the coalition government.
The motion was backed by the “Greatness” and “Ethics, Unity and Honor” parties. While the motion ultimately failed to secure enough votes, it signaled growing discontent with Sofia’s foreign policy.
The three parties condemned what they described as Bulgaria’s subservience to Israeli interests, particularly in the context of Marinov’s killing. The failed vote nonetheless revealed a notable shift in the political landscape, with open criticism of Israel becoming more prominent.
The incident comes amid a broader context of devastation in Gaza since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023. International reports have documented widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, schools, water and electricity facilities, as well as direct attacks on UN agencies and aid workers.
According to Farhan Haq, a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, at least 280 UN staff members have been killed in Gaza since the onset of the war, making it one of the deadliest conflicts for humanitarian personnel in modern history.
Calls for a ceasefire have intensified, with Minister Georgiev joining the international chorus urging for an end to the hostilities. “There is a need to return to a ceasefire in Gaza,” he said, calling for “the prevention of further civilian casualties and the immediate release of all captives.”
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