Gaza now ‘children’s graveyard’: UN chief
United Nations, United States, November 7, 2023 (Bass Desk): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday that the Gaza Strip has now become a ‘children’s graveyard’ due to heavy bombardment. Because of the situation there, he called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. News from AFP.
He told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, “The need for a humanitarian ceasefire is becoming more urgent every hour due to such a catastrophic situation.”
He said, “The parties involved in the conflict as well as the international community must stop this inhumane suffering and urgently increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
He also said, ‘Gaza’s nightmare is more than a humanitarian crisis. This is a crisis of humanity.’
According to the latest information provided by Israeli officials, at least 1400 people were killed in the deadly attack by Hamas on a concert and several houses in Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7. Most of those killed in Hamas attacks were civilians. Israel besieged Gaza and carried out massive bombings after Hamas indiscriminately shot and burned them and took more than 230 hostages on the first day of its offensive.
According to the latest figures from the Hamas Health Ministry in Gaza, 10,200 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israeli attacks in Gaza in retaliation for Hamas attacks. Almost half of them are women and children.
Thousands of buildings have collapsed and more than 1.5 million people have been displaced by Israeli forces there.
Guterres expressed regret for the killing of media workers. According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 36 journalists and media workers have been killed in the fighting between Israel and Hamas.
Children in incubators and patients on life support are dying without electricity and oxygen, Guterres said. This is exactly what is happening in Gaza.
He said, ‘It is important to observe a humanitarian ceasefire to get out of such a terrible situation. In this case, all parties have an obligation to comply with international law.’
“We are witnessing clear violations of international law in Gaza,” Guterres reiterated.
