United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has strengthened his calls for a ceasefire as Palestinian authorities reported that more than 10,000 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza.
The secretary-general told reporters on Monday that Gaza was becoming a “graveyard for children,” with more than 4,100 killed since the fighting began, according to the Ministry of Health in the enclave.
“Hundreds of girls and boys are reportedly being killed and injured every day,” he said.
“More journalists have reportedly been killed over a four-week period than in any conflict in at least three decades,” he said. “More United Nations aid workers have been killed than in any comparable period in the history of our organization.”
The remarks are some of the sharpest yet from Guterres, who has previously called for a ceasefire and said on Monday that Israeli strikes have targeted “hospitals, refugee camps, mosques, churches, and UN facilities, including shelters.”
Hamas launched an assault on southern Israel on October 7 that Israeli authorities said killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and included the killing of women and children.
Israel has also placed Gaza under a siege, cutting off access to necessities such as fuel, food, and electricity, while its bombardment has displaced more than 1.5 million people with few options for seeking refuge.
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