The IDF has admitted that one of its tanks mistakenly killed a UN worker after misidentifying the building he was in as containing “an enemy presence".
Marin Valev Marinov, who worked for the UN’s Office for Project Services (UNOPS), was killed and five others wounded during a strike on the UN compound in Deir-al-Ballah, Gaza, in March.
Officials had initially denied that the IDF had conducted any attack, saying on the day: “Contrary to reports, the IDF did not strike a UN compound in Deir al-Balah. The IDF calls on media outlets to act with caution regarding unverified reports.”
Israel also suggested that the blast at the compound was caused when a UN employee mishandled an unexploded landmine, according to the Jerusalem Post.
However, the military has now admitted that it was, in fact, an Israeli tank that had struck the building as its crew wrongly believed that it was occupied by terror operatives.
An army spokesperson said: “The building was struck due to assessed enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a UN facility.
"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."
Georg Georgiev, Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister, later confirmed that his country had received a formal apology over Marinov’s death, adding that it will “insist on fair compensation” for his relatives.
It is the second occasion in as many weeks that the IDF has admitted a mistake that led to the death of non-combatants.
Last month, the bodies of 15 people, including Red Crescent medics and Civil Defence staff, and multiple ambulances were discovered buried in the sand near Khan Younis after soldiers shot at ambulances in the area.
The IDF’s internal report into the incident identified operational and reporting failures, deviations from rules of engagement and a lack of disclosure in initial debriefings.
However, the military claimed that six of the 15 had been found to be Hamas terrorists, denied that any attempt had been made to conceal the bodies and labelled allegations that any of the deceased had been bound and executed “blood libels and false accusations”.
