Indian embassy officials and UN agencies in Israel on Friday paid their final respects to Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale (Retd.), who lost his life in Gaza while working as a UN staffer.
Colonel Kale, 46, who had served in the Indian Army’s 11 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, was recently transitioned to a role as a Security Coordination Officer within the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS). He died this week while travelling in a UN vehicle to a hospital in the Khan Younis area from Rafah amid Israel’s war against Hamas.
Embassy officials joined by senior officials from @IsraelMFA, @IDF, @UNDSS and other UN organizations paid their last respects to the mortal remains of Col. Waibhav Anil Kale (Retd.), who lost his life in Gaza. The mortal remains are on their final journey to India. pic.twitter.com/DIPr6hZYrL— India in Israel (@indemtel) May 17, 2024
The Permanent Mission of India to the UN on Tuesday condoled the death of a former Indian Army officer working with a UN agency in Gaza. Col Anil Kale who took premature retirement from the Indian Army in 2022, joined the UN as a Security Coordination Officer in the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) two months ago.
The former Indian army officer was travelling along with another DSS staffer to the European Hospital in Rafah when their UN vehicle was struck on Monday morning. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Col Waibhav Kale, working for the UN Department of Safety and Security in Gaza. Our deepest condolences are with the family during this difficult time, The Permanent Mission of India to the UN said in a post on X Tuesday.
Kale is the first casualty among international UN staff in Gaza since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict following the October 7 terror attacks. The United Nations has called for a full investigation while Israel has ordered a separate investigation into the attack. on Wednesday, the External Affairs Ministry said that Indian missions in the UN and in Israel are assisting in bringing back the mortal remains of the former Indian officer.
“Our Permanent Mission to the UN in New York and our Missions in Tel Aviv and Ramallah are extending all assistance in the repatriation of mortal remains to India and continue to be in touch with relevant authorities regarding the investigation into the incident,” the MEA said in an official statement.
(With agency inputs)
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