Gaza – Arab Canada News

The Washington Post, in an investigative report published today, revealed that the bombing targeting a United Nations facility in the Gaza Strip on March 19 resulted in the death of a relief worker and the injury of five others, likely caused by two shells fired from an Israeli army tank.

The investigation relied on technical analyses conducted by three independent munitions experts from the United States and the United Kingdom, who reviewed images and videos from the explosion site, concluding that the damage was consistent with “M339” type high-explosive shells fired by Israeli Merkava tanks.

Details of the Incident

Several staff members from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) arrived on the morning of the attack at the UN guest house in downtown Gaza to assess the damage caused to the building from a previous bombing. While they were in the courtyard of the building, a shell exploded in the air, resulting in the death of Bulgarian relief worker Marin Marinov (51 years old) and injuring five international staff members, one of whom holds British citizenship.

Less than two minutes later, a second shell struck the second floor of the building, causing extensive destruction. Footage from the site showed victims lying on the ground amidst pools of blood, with downed electric poles and uprooted trees in the vicinity of the building.

Satellite images taken a day before the incident showed the presence of an Israeli Merkava tank and three armored vehicles less than three kilometers from the target site, reinforcing the hypothesis attributing responsibility to the Israeli army.

Testimonies and Analyses

Israeli NGO "Breaking the Silence" researcher Avivai Stolar stated that the nature of the munitions used indicates a clear intent to hit the target, rather than a mere mistake or random bombing. He added that the guest house was a well-known UN site, regularly hosting high-level officials of the organization, making the mistake hypothesis illogical.

Official Reactions

For its part, the Israeli army denied responsibility for the incident, urging media outlets to “exercise caution with unverified information,” but did not provide a direct response to the evidence presented in the American newspaper's report.

In contrast, UN spokesperson Stefan Dujarric confirmed that the location of the guest house had been communicated to the Israeli army multiple times, and its status as a protected site was reaffirmed just hours before the bombing. Dujarric called for a transparent investigation to hold those responsible accountable, whether the attack was deliberate or the result of gross negligence.

Escalating Humanitarian Consequences

The incident sparked outrage and concern within UN and international circles, especially with the increased targeting of humanitarian workers in Gaza. According to official data from the United Nations, more than 280 of its staff have been killed since the war began on October 7, 2023, despite sharing the coordinates of their locations with Israeli authorities to avoid being targeted.

These developments prompted the United Nations mission to temporarily reduce its field presence in Gaza, as it was decided to evacuate about a third of its personnel working in the sector due to insufficient guarantees for their safety.