The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Saddened... helping to bring body back: MEA on retd Army officer killed in Gaza
INDIA ON Wednesday said it is “deeply saddened” over the death of Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale (Retd), the Indian national who was working with the UN in Gaza.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York as well as its mission in Tel Aviv and Ramallah, West Bank, are extending all assistance in the repatriation of mortal remains of Kale to India.
Kale, 46, was killed Monday when a UN vehicle he was travelling in came under attack in southern Gaza’s Rafah. A staff member of the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS), he was on his way to the European Hospital. Another DSS staffer was injured in the incident.
Kale’s death marked the first casualty among the UN’S international staff in the besieged Strip since the Israel-hamas conflict began in October last year.
The former Indian Army officer, who was from Pune, Maharashtra, is survived by his wife and two daughters.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale (Retd), Security Coordination Officer in the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) in Gaza on May 13,” the MEA said in a statement.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and dear ones… Our Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Col Waibhav Kale (retd) was killed in Rafah on Monday
and our Missions in Tel Aviv and Ramallah are extending all assistance in the repatriation of mortal remains to India and continue to be in touch with relevant authorities regarding the investigation into the incident,” it said.
On Tuesday, UN Secretary General's deputy spokesperson Farhanhaqsaidtheunhadsetup a fact-finding panel to determine theresponsibilityforkale'sdeath.
“It's very early in the investigation, and details of the incident are still being verified with the Israeli Defence Force (IDF)," he told a press conference.
Asked by reporters about the shots fired on the vehicle, he said, "we believe it came from a tank in the area" and later added, it was "safe" to assume that only the IDF tanks in that region.
There are 71 international UN staff members in Gaza currently, he said.
The IDF, in a statement on Monday, said the incident was “under review” and the IDF had not been made aware of the vehicle's route. But an initial inquiry indicated that “the vehicle was hit in an area declared an active combat zone.”
The Hamas-run government's media office accused Israel of “deliberately targeting foreign staff in the Gaza Strip”.