A British explosives expert has been wounded in an attack on a United Nations facility in Gaza, according to the charity he works for.
The 51-year-old specialist, whose name has not been disclosed, was among five individuals injured in the blast, which also claimed the life of a UN worker.
The incident occurred at a UN facility in Deir al-Balah on Wednesday morning, the Mines Advisory Group reported.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the explosion.
The Israeli military denied targeting the UN compound, stating that the blast was not a result of Israeli fire.
This comes as Israel resumes military operations in Gaza following a two-month ceasefire.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 400 people since the renewed offensive began.
The injured Briton, an expert in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), was conducting an assessment of explosive hazards at a UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) site when the explosion occurred, according to the Manchester-based charity’s CEO, Darren Cormack.
Initially treated in a Gaza hospital, the expert has since been transferred to a medical facility in Israel for further care.
Cormack condemned the attack, stressing that it is “shocking” for a humanitarian site to be targeted and for aid workers to suffer injuries or fatalities while performing their duties.
He also noted that such attacks violate international law.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein stated that the incident is under investigation, asserting that an initial review found no link to Israeli military activity.
However, Gaza’s health ministry attributed the attack to an Israeli strike.
UN spokesperson Haq reiterated the need for all military operations to ensure the safety of civilians, while Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of UNOPS, suggested the explosion was deliberate, describing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as “unconscionable.”
The ongoing war began after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign has led to the deaths of more than 48,500 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, with widespread destruction across the region.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged “restraint” from Israel in a phone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, expressing deep concern over the renewed fighting, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.