Ex-Indian Army officer with UN killed in Gaza, 'first international casualty'

A former Indian Army officer who had joined one of the UN agencies three weeks ago was killed in wartorn Rafah in Gaza becoming the first international casualty for the world body since the IsraelHamas conflict started last year The United Nations has called for a full investigation while Israel has ordered a separate investigation into the attackCol Waibhav Anil Kale 46 who took premature retirement from the Indian Army in 2022 joined the UN as a Security Coordination Officer in the United Nations Department of Safety and Security DSS recently officials in New Delhi said on TuesdayKale who had commanded the 11 Jammu amp Kashmir Rifles in Kashmir and had been an instructor at the armys Infantry School in Mhow was travelling along with another DSS staffer to the European Hospital in Rafah when their UN vehicle was struck on Monday morning The other person not identified was seriously injuredKale had joined as a security service coordinator with the UN three weeks ago The former infantry officer decided to join the UN to pursue his career and also because he was keen on humanitarian mission work his brotherinlaw Wing Commander Prashant Karde Retd told PTI in MumbaiHe is survived by wife Amruta and two teenage children Karde said The last rites of the 46yearold will be held in Pune in two days after his body is flown via Cairo His mortal remains will land either in Mumbai or Pune depending on the availability of flights Karde a senior commander with IndiGo saidKale had joined the Indian Army in 1998 and had also served as Contingent Chief Security Officer with the United Nations between 2009 and 2010 Karde said According to his LinkedIn profile he earned his BA from the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and had degrees in Behavioral Science and International Humanitarian Law and had studied at among other institutions the Indian Institute of Management at Lucknow and IndoreUN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres was deeply saddened to learn of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security DSS staff member and injury to another DSS staffer A statement by Farhan Haq Deputy Spokesman for the SecretaryGeneral said that Guterres condemned all attacks on UN personnel and called for a full investigation Guterres sent his condolences to the family of the fallen staff memberWith the conflict in Gaza continuing to take a heavy toll not only on civilians but also on humanitarian workers the SecretaryGeneral reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release of all hostages the statement added In a post on X Guterres said the UN vehicle was struck in Gaza killing one of our colleagues amp injuring another and said more than 190 UN staff have been killed in GazaResponding to questions on the incident during a press briefing Haq said at this point We are in the process of informing the relevant governments and the relevant family members He added that they were international staff and confirmed that this is in fact the first international UN casualty While there have been international casualties involving workers for the World Central Kitchen in Gaza Haq said that of UN staff I believe Ive not been previously aware of an international casualtyHaq added that the vehicle was headed to the hospital as part of their regular work They go to different locations to assess security conditions And this was the European hospital in Rafah When asked for details about how their vehicle was struck Haq said Were still accumulating details We expect to get reports including from the relevant authorities He added that close to 190 UN personnel have been killed in Gaza since October 7 most of them national staff of the UN Relief and Works Agency UNRWAHaq added that the UN is going to set up measures for accountability A lot of that ultimately requires an end to the conflict so that we can work these out but we will be working with the authorities on the ground to get restitution for all of those who have been killed Haq said he did not have the full details of whether the vehicle that was struck was part of a large convoy I believe it was in a convoy that was moving and this was the DSS vehicle that was hitThe Permanent Mission of India to the UN condoled Kales death with a post on X We are deeply saddened by the loss of Col Waibhav Kale working for the UN Department of Safety and Security in Gaza Our deepest condolences are with the family during this difficult time The BBC reported that the Israel Defense Forces IDF confirmed it had received a report from the UN Department of Safety and Security UNDSS that said two of its workers were injured in the Rafah area in southern Gaza on MondayThe IDF added that the incident was under review it said In April seven members of the World Central Kitchen were killed in an IDF strike in Gaza One of those killed in the airstrike was Zomi Frankcom an Australian of Indian descent according to reports The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA said that between October 7 2023 and May 12 2024 at least 35091 Palestinians have been killed and 78827 injured in GazaMore than 1200 Israelis and foreign nationals including 33 children were killed in Israel the vast majority on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel Meanwhile as his family awaited the mortal remains Kales brother in law said Waibhav left the army three years ago and had settled in Pune He hailed from Nagpur and had studied at the Somalwar High School thereDuring his more than two decadeslong career in the military Kale served in the northeast and also at the Siachen glacier He was a former deputy commander of Rashtriya Rifles in Kashmir and was part of counterintelligence and counterterrorism operations he said Kales brother Group Captain Vishal Kale is a senior officer in the Indian Air Force and his cousin Colonel Amey Kale is also in the armyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever