In a major revelation, IDF released drone footage showing armed men standing next to vehicles of the international organization at a UN compound in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Highlighting the exclusive footage, Israel has requested the United Nations to intervene in the matter immediately where an Indian, Col (Retd) Waibhav Kale appointed at UNDSS was killed. Israel, who is a staunch ally of India, had expressed condolences at the tragedy, which marked the “first international casualty” for the international organization since the war began.
Meanwhile, after the drone footage was released, the IDF spokesperson Maj. Nir Dinar, calling the presence of armed men in the UN complex a “troubling phenomenon”, stated that such an incident must be severely condemned. He highlighted that this is not the first time that the Israeli military has spotted armed people, thought to be linked with the Hamas terror group, near the UN vehicles and facilities. Israeli forces have also clarified that it didn’t strike the militants or their vehicles because they were in UN compounds and near UN personnel. Nonetheless, it is still unclear from the IDF drone footage whether the armed guys are affiliated with Hamas or any other militant organizations operating in Gaza.
For the unversed, the drone footage released by the IDF on Tuesday shows armed men at the UNRWA logistics complex in Rafah, a major hub for the distribution of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. In the footage, released by the Israeli military shows that the armed men were standing next to UN-marked vehicles.
Meanwhile, saddened by the loss of former Indian Army officer, (Retd) Col Waibhav Anil Kale, New Delhi on Wednesday stated that its missions in the UN and Israel are assisting in bringing back his mortal remains to the country. The Ministry of External Affairs added that India’s Permanent 5. Mission to the UN in New York, and Missions in Tel Aviv and Ramallah are in continuous touch with relevant authorities regarding the investigation into the matter.
A UNRWA spokesman said that the organization was unable to confirm the video’s credibility, content, timeline, or particular location, but it appeared to show a UNRWA warehouse in Rafah that its employees were using.
Denouncing the incident, UNRWA asserted that no party engaged in the war is permitted to misuse UN facilities for military or combative operations, and must not disrespect the lives, property, and operations of UN officials working in the war-wretched nation. Moreover, UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma reiterated UN’s call on all parties engaged in the conflict to respect the sanctity and neutrality of UN installations. Under no circumstances should anyone have or use weapons in a UN facility, UNRWA spokesperson stated.
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