The UN has initiated a probe into the death of a former Indian Army officer, Waibhav Anil Kale, who was killed in a strike on a UN vehicle in Rafah, southern Gaza. This incident, which resulted in Kale's death and injuries to his colleague, occurred while they were en route to the European Hospital in Rafah on Monday. Both individuals were part of the UN Department of Safety and Security.

UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq mentioned that a fact-finding panel has been established to ascertain the culpability for the attack, noting that discussions with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are ongoing as details of the incident are being verified. The UN vehicle, marked with a UN flag, was reportedly fired upon from an area where only Israeli armored vehicles operate in Gaza, as per a UN spokesperson cited by the Washington Post, leading to Kale's tragic demise and his colleague's injuries.

The IDF, in response, stated that they were not informed of the vehicle's route before the incident and indicated that the matter is currently under review. The UN Secretary-General has urgently called for a humanitarian ceasefire and the release of hostages amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, emphasizing the toll it is taking on civilians and humanitarian workers. Furthermore, the UNRWA reported an additional staff member's death in Gaza over the weekend, highlighting the escalating humanitarian crisis with a significant number of people fleeing Rafah due to the escalating violence.