A retired Indian Army officer, Waibhav Anil Kale, 46, who was working for the United Nations (UN) in Gaza, was tragically killed while traveling to a hospital in the Khan Younis area from the Rafah region. The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations expressed their condolences to his family, stating, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Col Vaibhav Kale, working for the UN Department of Safety and Security in Gaza. Our deepest condolences are with the family during this difficult time,” in a post on X.
The United Nations also expressed their condolences on Tuesday. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, acknowledged the death of the Indian national and the injury of another DSS staffer when their UN vehicle was struck en route to the European Hospital in Rafah. “The Secretary-General 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 when their UN vehicle was struck as they travelled to the European Hospital in Rafah this morning,” the UN stated.
Waibhav Anil Kale had joined the United Nations as the security service coordinator in Gaza just a month ago. The Secretary-General condemned the attack and called for a thorough investigation, stating, “The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on UN personnel and calls for a full investigation. He sends his condolences to the family of the fallen staff member.” He also appealed for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all hostages, emphasizing the heavy toll the conflict in Gaza is taking on both civilians and humanitarian workers. “With the conflict in Gaza continuing to take a heavy toll – not only on civilians but also on humanitarian workers – the Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release of all hostages,” he added.
Kale, who had retired from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regiment of the Indian Army two years ago to join the UN, is survived by his family in the Pune district of Maharashtra.