2685 | 25 March 2025 | 16:55
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) expressed concern over the statement made by the spokesperson of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) that the death of Marin Marinov in Gaza was caused by an Israeli tank.
"We are deeply concerned by the statement made by the spokesperson of the Secretary-General of the UN that, based on current information, the death of Bulgarian citizen Marin Marinov and the serious injury of other UN personnel in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on March 19th was caused by an Israeli tank," the Ministry writes on the social media platform "X".
In another publication by the ministry, the call of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for "a thorough, complete and independent investigation" is supported and the results are expected to be in line with the commitment previously made by the UN, including towards Bulgaria.
Earlier today, the UN announced that the organization will reduce its presence in the Gaza Strip, withdrawing about one third of its international personnel, after an Israeli tank struck one of its facilities in the enclave, killing one staff member and injuring five, according to DPA and Associated Press.
The global organization will temporarily withdraw one third of its approximately one hundred employees working in Gaza.
Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized that the UN is not completely withdrawing from the Gaza Strip.
The statement by the spokesperson is the first instance in which the United Nations has accused Israel of the explosion on March 19 at a UN facility in the central part of Gaza. He stated that "based on the currently available information," the strikes on the facility were caused by an Israeli tank.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) did not immediately comment on the statement by the UN. Israel denies being behind the explosion, which occurred one day after it ended a two-month-long ceasefire in Gaza with surprise airstrikes.
Last week's strike on the UN facility near Deir al-Balah resulted in the death of 51-year-old Bulgarian UN staffer Marin Velezh Marinov, according to the Associated Press. He had been working for the United Nations Office for Project Services.
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