A spokesperson confirmed on Monday that a UN security services member was killed in an attack on a vehicle in Gaza. This incident marks the first death of an international UN employee in the Palestinian territory since the beginning of the ongoing conflict.
According to the spokesperson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep sorrow upon learning of the death of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS) staff member. The attack also resulted in injuries to another DSS staffer as they were traveling to the European Hospital in Rafah.
The spokesperson emphasized that this casualty is the first international one for the UN since the Israeli offensive in Gaza commenced as a response to the Hamas attack on October 7. The spokesperson recalled the significant number of Palestinian UN employees who have lost their lives during the conflict, primarily staff of the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA).
Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson, conveyed the Secretary-General’s condemnation of all attacks on UN personnel and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. However, the spokesperson did not immediately disclose the nationality of the victim.
Regarding the circumstances of the attack, details remain limited. The spokesperson mentioned that the incident occurred as part of a convoy traveling to the European Hospital in Rafah, but specific information about the convoy’s size was not provided.
The UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) is responsible for overseeing the security of UN agencies and programs in over 130 countries worldwide. This tragic incident underscores the risks faced by UN personnel in conflict zones and the importance of ensuring their safety and security.
