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Vaibhav Anil Kale had joined the UN Security and Safety Department only three weeks ago.
A former Indian soldier working for the United Nations (UN) agency died on Monday (May 13) in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war. The name of the former soldier was Colonel Vaibhav Anil Kale, who was a resident of Nagpur.
Before joining the UN agency, he was posted in Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. India’s External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday expressed grief over Vaibhav’s death. The ministry issued a statement expressing its condolences to Kale’s family.
He told that the government is in constant touch with the UN to bring Vaibhav’s body to India. UN has also expressed grief over this matter. Vaibhav died when he was delivering humanitarian aid in Rafah. Meanwhile, an Israeli tank attacked them.
Vaibhav Anil Kale was providing humanitarian aid in Rafah, Gaza.
Who was Colonel Vaibhav Anil Kale?
Colonel Vaibhav Anil Kale took retirement (VRS) from the Indian Army in 2022. He had joined the UN Security and Safety Department just three weeks ago. 46 year old Vaibhav had joined the Indian Army in April 1998. He served as the Chief Security Officer in the United Nations from 2009 to 2010.
Vaibhav did his graduation in Behavioral Science and International Humanitarian Law from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. He also did further studies from other institutes including IMM Lucknow and DAVV Indore.
Other members of Vaibhav’s family have also served in the Indian Military. His brother Group Captain Vishal Kale was recruited in the Air Force, while Vaibhav’s cousin Ame Kale had also been a colonel in the army. Another relative of Vaibhav, Prashant Karde has also retired from the Air Force.
Connection to Pathankot airbase attack
According to news agency PTI, while being a soldier, Vaibhav was a part of many anti-terror operations. During this period, he was also deployed in Siachen Base Camp several times. Vaibhav Kale was involved in operations related to preventing the 2016 terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase.
His close friend Lieutenant Colonel Hange told that Vaibhav was commanding the 11 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles battalion of the Indian Army at the time of the Pathankot attack. He along with his unit played an important role in the operation.
On January 2, 2016, Jaish terrorists attacked the airbase in Pathankot. 7 soldiers were martyred in this. A 36-hour encounter and three-day combing operation was conducted.
In the footage, Hamas fighters (in red circle) are seen near the UN vehicle.
200 UN relief workers killed in Israel-Hamas war
About a month ago also, 7 UN relief workers were killed in Israel’s attack on Gaza. The Israeli army had carried out an airstrike on the convoy of the World Central Kitchen charity. The killed employees were citizens of Australia, Britain, Poland and America. According to the UN, about 200 relief workers have died so far in the war.
35 thousand Palestinians died in the war, Israel is attacking Rafah
The war between Israel and Hamas has been going on for the last 7 months. So far 35 thousand Palestinians have died in this, including about 15 thousand children. At the same time, about 80% of the people of Gaza became homeless. This war has now reached Rafa city of Gaza near the Egypt border.
In fact, at the beginning of the war, people had left northern Gaza and taken refuge in Rafah to escape Israel’s action. According to Al Jazeera, more than 10 lakh people live in this area. Now Israel is attacking Rafah in the last phase of the war.
Israel argues that they have so far eliminated 24 battalions of Hamas. But still 4 battalions are hiding in Rafa. To eliminate them, it is necessary to conduct an operation in Rafah.