site.btaPresident Radev Says March 19 Killing of Bulgarian Aid Worker in Gaza "Casts Shadow on Long Years of Friendship" between Bulgaria and Israel

President Rumen Radev Friday said that the March 19 killing of a Bulgarian air worker in Gaza casts a shadow on long years of friendship between Bulgaria and Israel. "Bulgaria and Israel have maintained long years of sincere relations and friendship, and, naturally, the killing of Marin Marinov cast a shadow on them. That is why yesterday's acknowledgement by the Israel Defense Forces was very important but it was only the first step. It would be right for that to be followed by an official apology and a just compensation for the family," said the President.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have admitted to mistakenly firing on a UN facility in central Gaza last month, killing an UN staffer, the The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel and Haaretz media reported Thursday. Prior to that, the IDF denied responsibility for the March 19 strike in Deir al-Balah that killed Bulgarian UN staffer Marin Marinov and wounded five others. IDF announced "tank fire mistakenly killed the UN official and wounded the five others on March 19 in central Gaza. According to the IDF, the IDF tank and soldiers in the area on March 19 identified a suspected enemy element in the facility and fired on the structure to kill the suspected enemy. It was unclear from the IDF what the suspicious signs were or whether, in fact, there were enemy fighters in the structure." Bulgaria insists on fair compensation from Israel for the relatives of Bulgarian UN staffer. 

The head of State was speaking to the press in Pernik where he visited for an event of the Sport with the President initiative aiming to encourage physical activity among children through extracurricular activities.