SOFIA, March 25 (MENA) - The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday voiced "deep concern" on X over a statement by UN Secretary-General's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric that "based on currently available information", an explosion at a UN facility in central Gaza that killed a Bulgarian national and severely injured other UN personnel on March 19 was "caused by an Israeli tank".

Last week's strike on a UN compound near Deir al-Balah led to the death of Marin Velev Marinov, 51, a Bulgarian who worked at the UN's project services office, the Bulgarian News Agency reported.

In another X post, the Bulgarian ministry said: "We support Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's call for a 'thorough, full, and independent investigation' and expect the results in line with the commitment previously assumed by the UN, including to Bulgaria. As we have repeatedly stated, our sole priority is the truth and nothing but the truth, based on a competent analysis of events and indisputable evidence."

The spokesman's statement is the first time the UN has blamed Israel for the March 19 explosion.

The United Nations said on Monday that, while it is not withdrawing entirely from the Gaza Strip, it will "reduce its footprint" in the enclave, pulling out about a third of its international staff, after an Israeli tank struck one of the organization's compounds in the enclave, killing one staff member and wounding five. (MENA)

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