Tank fire killed UN worker in Gaza

Israeli tank fire killed a UN worker in Gaza last month, according to initial findings from an investigation released Thursday by Israel's military, which initially denied operating in the area.

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) announced on March 19 the death of one of its employees in the central Gaza city of Deir el-Balah when an unidentified piece of "explosive ordnance" hit their building.

"According to the findings collected so far, the examination indicates that the fatality was caused by tank fire from IDF (Israeli military) troops operating in the area," the military said in a statement.

"The building was struck due to assessed enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a UN facility".

Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein also said on March 19 that "the initial examination found no connection... whatsoever" to Israeli military activity, though the circumstances were under investigation.