By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - The UN relief chief urged parties on Tuesday to take the utmost measures to prevent civilian casualties, including aid workers, after a UN staff member was killed in the Gaza Strip.
"Once again, devastating news that a UN colleague has been killed and another injured in Gaza.
"Parties must take all feasible precautions to spare civilians, including UN personnel and humanitarian workers," Martin Griffiths said in a statement.
His remarks came one day after a UN staffer from the UN Department of Safety and Security was killed and another injured when their vehicle came under fire while traveling to the European Hospital in Rafah in southern Gaza.
Separately, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN chief told reporters that the UN has established a fact-finding panel.
"It's very early in the investigation and details of this incident are still being verified with the Israeli Defense Force.
"What we know so far indicates that a weapon appears to have impacted the back of a white UN vehicle carrying two UN staff members," he said, adding that the fatality is from India and the wounded from Jordan.
Haq confirmed that it is the "first international casualty" in Gaza since the Israel onslaught began Oct. 7.
"I think the point is we are in discussion with Israel to determine exactly how this incident happened and the nature of what happened. I don't think at this stage we are in doubt about where the shots came from as much as what the circumstances were," he said, adding the UN believes the shots came from a tank in the area.
When asked if Israel apologized to the UN, Haq said: "This case is still under review."
"The point I'm making is that this case is still under review. We'll see what the review results in," he responded to if it was a "deliberate attack" on the UN.