IDF acknowledges it accidentally shelled UN facility, killing staff member in Gaza last month

The Israeli military acknowledges that troops mistakenly shelled a United Nations facility in central Gaza last month, killing a UN worker.

Until now, the IDF denied it had struck the UN guesthouse in Deir al-Balah on March 19.

The IDF’s high-level General Staff Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism, an independent military body responsible for investigating unusual incidents amid the war, is looking into the event.

The mechanism’s initial findings were presented today to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and UN representatives, the military says.

According to the findings, on March 19, an IDF tank operating in the area fired a shell at the building, following a “suspicion of enemy forces in it.” The investigation has found that the building was not identified by the tank crew as belonging to the UN.

Zamir has instructed the head of the mechanism, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yoav Har-Even, to conclude the probe in the coming days and present the full findings to the UN representatives.

The IDF says it “regrets this serious incident and continues to conduct thorough review processes to draw operational lessons and evaluate additional measures to prevent such events in the future.”

“We express our deep sorrow for the loss and send our condolences to the family,” the military says.