Geolocation source

According to Avihai Stollar (Military & Human rights researcher | @BtSIsrael | Arms specialist | PhD student @ces_uc) who contributed some context to a Washington Post Visual Article, On March 19, two projectiles struck a UN guesthouse in Deir al-Balah, killing Bulgarian aid worker Marin Marinov. Israel denied responsibility but forensic analysis points to Israeli M339 tank shells.

The distinct rings along with the green components among the fragments point specifically to an M339, they said. In Gaza, those shells are used only by Israeli forces.

A screenshot from video published by the Associated Press show a weapons fragment, left, against a screenshot from an Elbit Systems promotional video for an M339 tank round, right

A United Nations building in Gaza on Wednesday, March 19, after being struck by what a UN official called an "explosive ordnance." Mohammad Al Sawalhi for CNN

Video filmed by CNN at the scene showed a hole on the side of the building.

Trevor Ball, a former US Army senior explosive ordnance disposal team member who reviewed the footage, said weapon fragments from the scene are consistent with the M339, an Israeli tank projectile.

Damage from the building is also consistent with a tank round, Ball said, and points to a pretty direct impact.

N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director at Armament Research Services (ARES) who also analyzed the footage, said the “remnants appear to be from an Israeli 120 mm tank projectile, most likely the M339 multi-purpose model.”

CNN asked the IDF whether they were investigating the possibility that the strike could have been caused by Israeli tank fire. A spokesperson said: “We have nothing to add at the moment. If new information arises, we will publish it.”

Around midday, the IDF attacked a UN guesthouse in Deir al-Balah, resulting in 6 casualties among foreign employees of the UNMAS (United Nations Mine Action Service).

Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of the UNOPS stated the UN guesthouse in Deir al-Balah was frequently used by UN staff and its location was known to the IDF, being in an isolated area with no other buildings nearby. He emphasized that the site was repeatedly attacked amid Israeli strikes on Gaza: “Two days ago there was a near miss to this premises, and yesterday the premises was hit, and today there was another hit, unfortunately with these casualties”. “It cannot be categorized as an accident”.

While the IDF denied attacking the building, several experts confirmed evidence of Israel being the perpetrator:

• Trevor Ball, a former US Army senior explosive ordnance disposal team member confirmed weapon fragments from the scene are consistent with the Israeli M339 tank projectile. He also confirmed that the damage from the building is also consistent with idirect impact by a tank round.
• Nic Jenzen-Jones, director at Armament Research Services (ARES) who also analyzed the footage, said the “remnants appear to be from an Israeli 120 mm tank projectile, most likely the M339 multi-purpose model.”

Names of the victims:

• Marin Marinov – Killed
• Joel Fournet – Critically Injured
• Alexander Papan – Critically Injured
• Berthon Nicklaus – Severely Injured
• Arnold Neil – Severely Injured
• David Petron – Severely Injured