A UN relief worker told an Israeli official Palestinians were breaking into his compound, soon before he was shot dead by Israeli troops as they fought a gunbattle with Palestinians, according to a recording released by Israel.
The recording of the phone voicemail message left by Mr Iain Hook adds a twist to the controversy over how and why he was shot.
The Israeli army said in an initial report its troops shot Mr Hook by mistake as they returned Palestinian fire aimed at them from inside the UN compound.
UN officials say there were no gunmen inside the compound, as Mr Hook had succeeded in keeping out a group of armed Palestinians who had tried to break in.
Israeli authorities provided Reuters today with a recording of the voicemail message they said Mr Hook had left on the phone of an Israeli liaison official at 12.57 p.m. on Friday, 18 minutes before he was killed.
Mr Hook, a Briton working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), said he was trying to keep Palestinians out of the compound in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank.
"Hi Peter. It's Iain here. I'm just making a progress report. We're pinned down in the compound. The 'Shebab' (young men) have knocked a hole in the wall which I'm not happy about at all. I am trying to keep them out. I will just keep my people pinned down in the corner until I hear from you. OK?" said a British-accented voice on the recording.
Within 18 minutes of his call, at 1.15 p.m., Mr Hook was shot. Shortly afterwards he died of his wounds.