Daijiworld Media Network - Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Apr 25: The Israeli military has confirmed that it was responsible for the death of a Bulgarian UN worker in the Gaza Strip on March 19. The incident initially went unacknowledged by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which had previously denied targeting the site. The worker, Marin Valev Marinov, an employee of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), was killed when a UN compound in Deir al-Balah was struck.

According to the IDF's investigation, Marinov’s death occurred due to a mistaken identification of the building as one harboring an ‘enemy presence.’ The military stated that the facility was not recognized as a UN structure. The IDF has expressed regret over the tragic incident and assured a comprehensive review to prevent such occurrences in the future.

In response, Bulgaria’s foreign minister Georg Georgiev stated that Israel had formally apologized to the Bulgarian government and promised to seek compensation for Marinov’s family. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers in conflict zones.

The attack, which also left five other UN personnel injured, occurred just a day after Israel resumed its offensive against Hamas following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire. UN secretary-general António Guterres has called for a full investigation into the incident, stressing the importance of upholding international law and the protection of UN facilities.

The IDF also acknowledged earlier this week that ‘professional failures’ led to the deaths of 15 emergency workers in Gaza during the same period. Meanwhile, Israel’s military actions in Gaza have continued, with reports of mounting casualties in the ongoing conflict.