Ex-Indian Army Officer Killed In Gaza, UN Condoles His Death

Col Waibhav Anil Kale, a retired Indian Army officer working with the United Nations (UN) as a security service coordinator was killed in Gaza when the vehicle he was travelling in came under attack in the Rafah region.

Col Kale is the UN’s first international casualty since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in 2023.

The UN and Israel have both called for investigations into the incident.

Col Kale retired from the Indian Army in 2022. He is survived by his wife Amruta and two teenage children, son Vedant and daughter Radhika.

The United Nations condoled and expressed apologies to India over the killing of a former Indian Army officer. It is believed that the vehicle he was travelling in fell victim to shots allegedly fired by an Israeli tank.

Colonel Kale joined as a Security Coordination Officer in the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) two months ago.

Another DSS staffer from Jordan travelling with Col Kale was injured in the incident. Their UN-marked vehicle was attacked while they were travelling to the European Hospital in war-torn Rafah in Gaza on Monday morning.