The Israeli military has officially admitted responsibility for the tragic death of a United Nations worker, Marin Valev Marinov, due to tank fire in the Gaza Strip. This admission comes after an earlier denial of involvement following the incident that occurred on March 19, 2023, when a UN compound located in Deir al-Balah was struck.

Initially, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintained that it had not targeted the site, which resulted in the death of the Bulgarian employee of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and injuries to five other UN personnel. However, new findings from the IDFs investigation revealed that the military had mistakenly identified the building as harboring an enemy presence. In a statement released on Thursday, the IDF acknowledged, The building was struck due to assessed enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a UN facility.

These preliminary findings have been communicated to the United Nations, and the IDF has promised to share the full conclusion of their investigation in due course. Expressing regret over what they termed a serious incident, the IDF stated that they are committed to conducting thorough reviews to draw operational lessons and implement measures aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future. Furthermore, they extended their condolences to Marinov's family, highlighting their sorrow over the loss.

In response to this unfortunate incident, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev issued a statement indicating that the Israeli government had extended an apology to Bulgaria for the tragic loss of life. He emphasized the need for fair compensation for the relatives of Captain Marinov, asserting, We will insist on fair compensation for Captain Marinov's relatives. In addition, we firmly call for such incidents not to be repeated. Georgiev also underscored the critical importance of ensuring the safety and protection of humanitarian workers operating in conflict zones.

This tragic event took place shortly after Israel had renewed its military offensive against Hamas, following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire. The timing of the attack raised concerns about the safety of humanitarian operations in the region. UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres responded by calling for a comprehensive investigation into the incident, emphasizing that the locations of all UN premises are known to the parties to the conflict, who are bound by international law to protect them and maintain their absolute inviolability.

The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) noted that explosive ordnance was dropped or fired at the guesthouse, which they described as being located in an isolated area. Jorge Moreira da Silva, the executive director of UNOPS, asserted that the attack could not be classified as an accident, given the circumstances.

On the day of the incident, the IDF had issued a statement claiming, Contrary to reports, the IDF did not strike a UN compound in Deir al-Balah. They urged media outlets to exercise caution regarding unverified reports that circulated in the aftermath of the attack. Footage corroborated by the BBC displayed injured individuals, including two wearing blue UN flak jackets, being transported to a hospital by ambulance, followed closely by a UN vehicle.